Bengaluru: After reports surfaced that the deadly coronavirus (covid-19) might have made its way into Karnataka, state health minister B Sreeramulu and state medical education minister Dr Sudhakar called for an emergency meeting with concerned officials and doctors on Tuesday, March 3.

After the meeting, Sreeramulu addressed the media and said, “I have already given strict orders to the health department to monitor the situation with extra care. In order to conduct tests for covid-19, labs have been opened at the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital and Bengaluru Medical Hospital. Testing centres are being opened in all the government and private hospitals of the state. We will work day in and day out for this.”

“I request the people of the state not to panic as till now, there have been no positive cases reported. We will take precautionary measures so that it does not spread in the state. Kindly don’t lend your ears to rumours and fake news,” he added.

Speaking about the precautionary measures taken, the minister said, “Ports, airports and every other place have been put under strict surveillance. Every individual coming from foreign countries will be subjected to thorough screening. The state health ministry is in constant touch with the Centre and we are updating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on a timely basis about the arrangements being made.”