Coronavirus update: 600+ Indians and Maldivians evacuated, no e-visa for China

The developments came as the coronavirus, which emerged in early December and traced to a market in Hubei capital Wuhan that sold wild animals, has killed more than 300 people in China, infected over 14,000 others and spread to 25 countries.

A second Air India flight in as many days evacuated 330 passengers, including seven Maldives citizens from Wuhan. (Photo: PTI)

India on Sunday reported its second coronavirus case with another student who had returned to Kerala from Wuhan testing positive, while 323 more Indians and seven Maldivians were brought back by air from the Chinese city, the epicentre of the outbreak, taking the number of evacuees to 654.

The government also announced a temporary suspension of the e-visa facility for Chinese travellers and foreigners residing in the neighbouring country and issued a fresh advisory saying anyone with travel history to China since January 15 can be quarantined.

The developments came as the virus, which emerged in early December and traced to a market in Hubei capital Wuhan that sold wild animals, has killed more than 300 people in China, infected over 14,000 others and spread to 25 countries.

Both the cases in India have been reported in Kerala, where nearly 2,000 people are under observation in hospitals and homes.

The second patient is also a student from Wuhan in China. The patient had returned to Kerala on January 24, Kerala government said in a statement.

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said the condition of the student, currently admitted to the isolation ward at the Alapuzha Medical College Hospital, was “stable”.

News Source India Today