Lakshadweep reports first coronavirus case

The Covid-19 case was reported two weeks after the Lakshadweep administration revised Standard Operating Procedures by doing away with mandatory quarantine guidelines for those arriving from Kochi.

The island of Lakshadweep has had no positive cases of coronavirus so far (Google Earth view)

The Health Ministry Tuesday said that Lakshadweep has reported its first case of COVID-19 and that a team of experts has been rushed to the Union territory to assist in containment activities.

“The index case is a traveller who had come to Lakshadweep from Kochi in Kerala on January 4 by a ship. The case had reported to the hospital with symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 and was tested positive,” the ministry said.

It said that 31 primary contacts of the index case have been traced and quarantined, of which 14 have been found to be positive and are isolated.

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“Fifty-six contacts of positive cases detected so far have also been traced and quarantined. The UT Administration has initiated disinfection procedures and intensive risk-communication activity has been operationalised,” the ministry said.

“Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has rushed a central multi-disciplinary team to Lakshadweep. The team comprises experts drawn from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry; National Institute of Virology, Pune; and Regional Office of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,” it said.

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