Shillong, Jan. 28, 2020 : Fresh alert has been sounded in Meghalaya against the Coronavirus that claimed around 80 lives in China while thousands of cases have been confirmed.

A Press release  from the Health Department, Government of Meghalaya on Tuesday  has requested any person who has travelled in the past one month to China and other countries where the positive Corona virus cases have been reported, to self-identify themselves irrespective of whether having any symptoms or not by calling the 24 hours Meghalaya GVK EMRI helpline number 108. The call operator will then give directions as to what is to be done next. This is to ensure that no symptomatic cases are missed out within the incubation period.

Travellers who had come from the affected areas and the general public are advised to adhere to the following standard health measures for prevention and control.

Those with travel history to the affected areas or exposed to a confirmed case of nCoV infection in the past one month with symptoms of fever and cough should immediately wear face mask, isolate oneself and call up No. 108 and inform the nearby health facility for further directions. Frequently clean your hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, when coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue and dispose tissue sanitarily and immediately wash hands and avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough.

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals, including humans, and birds. In humans, the virus causes respiratory infections which are typically mild but, in rare cases, can be lethal. In cows and pigs they may cause diarrhea, while in chickens it can cause an upper respiratory disease.