In a move to tackle the deadly coronavirus, the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Railways have announced comprehensive measures to combat the virus.
The Ministry of Shipping has issued certain orders relating to the movement and docking of international cruise ships. The rules said that it will only permit cruise ships that have taken permission before or on January 1, 2020, to dock at the major ports.
Patients showing symptoms related to the virus and those who have been to the affected nations on or after February 1, 2020, will not be permitted to deboard the ship. Also, the ships will be allowed to dock only in the major ports where the government has set up thermal screening facilities.
While the Ministry of Railways in a press release said that the Minister for Railways and Commerce Piyush Goyal has directed all officials of the ministry to deal with the outbreak of the virus swiftly and proactively.
The measures announced by Chairman of the Railway board involved bringing awareness and educating the railway passengers about the virus, ensuring that the hospitals under Railways have isolation wards, the medical staff deployed at such areas have proper protective gears and officers at all levels work in a coordinated manner. While control rooms and telephone helplines have been set up at all Railway hospitals to ensure smooth communication.
India reported a total number of 60 positive cases on Wednesday and these measures are a step forward in ensuring that the virus does not spread any further.