BackIndian nurse in Saudi isn't affected by coronavirus, clarifies the kingdom
Earlier, MoS MEA said a nurse from Kerala, working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia, has been infected by the coronavirus and was being treatedBut the Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a tweet that there were no cases of the novel coronavirus so far
PremiumA Saudi health ministry affiliate said on Thursday there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected.
Earlier, India's minister of state for external affairs said an Indian nurse working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia has been infected by the coronavirus and was being treated, amid an outbreak that has killed 18 people in China.
But the Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a tweet that there were no cases of the novel coronavirus so far.
The kingdom said on Wednesday it would start screening passengers arriving from China and take other preventive measures following the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
The virus, which can pass from person to person, has been reported in Thailand, Japan and South Korea, raising concerns about its spread through international air travel. More than 630 people have been infected, mostly in China, but cases have been detected as far away as the United States.
Elsewhere in the Gulf region, Qatar called on its citizens in China to exercise caution against the virus, the state news agency reported on Thursday.
A nurse from Kerala employed at a hospital in Saudi Arabia has tested positive for the deadly novel coronavirus Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said on Thursday.
The minister confirmed that about 100 Indian nurses working in the Saudi Arabia hospital were tested following the threat of coronavirus and one of them was found infected by the deadly virus.
Taking to Twitter, MoS (MEA) Muraleedharan said, "About 100 Indian nurses mostly from Kerala working at Al-Hayat hospital have been tested and none except one nurse was found infected by coronavirus. Affected nurse is being treated at Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well."
Earlier in the day, he had said that he was in touch with the Indian consulate in Jeddah to provide all possible support to the nurses quarantined at Al-Hayat hospital.
"Spoke to @CGIJeddah on Indian nurses quarantined at Al-Hayat Hospital, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia due to Corona virus threat. They are in touch with hospital management and Saudi foreign Ministry. Have asked our Consulate to provide all possible support", he had tweeted.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday wrote to the External Affairs ministry seeking intervention in Corona outbreak among Kerala nurses in Saudi Arabia.
"Corona outbreak among nurses in Azir Aba Al Hayat hospital in Saudi Arabia should be considered serious and necessary steps must be taken", he had said through the letter.
The Chief Minister had also requested MEA to communicate with Saudi Arabia to ensure proper treatment and protection for the patients.
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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
