Coronavirus: Toddler tests positive for Covid-19 in Kerala

The family flew home from Italy via Dubai International Airport on March 7

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A three-year-old boy tested positive for Covid-19 in the Indian state of Kerala.

The family had travelled from Italy and took a connecting flight from Dubai International Airport to Kochi on March 7.

"The boy, who came on an Emirates flight to Kochi, has tested positive for Covid-19," Dr S Sreedevi, a district surveillance officer told The National.

“They came from Italy to Dubai. They were at Dubai airport for a short while and then took a connecting flight to India.

“During the screening at Kochi airport, the boy vomited and also had fever so he was immediately taken to Ernakulum Medical College (hospital).

“His clinical condition is stable and the parents are in the isolation ward as their samples have been sent for testing. The results are awaited,” she said.

The boy was among four people who have recently tested positive in India taking the tally in the country to 43 on March 9.

Several patients have recovered but remain under observation, India’s health ministry said.

Emirates said it is working with local authorities and medical teams to report suspected cases of Covid-19 on flights.

“If any of our flights transport a suspected or confirmed case, we implement deep cleaning and disinfection of the aircraft in a process that takes between six to eight hours to complete,” the spokeswoman said.

“We have implemented enhanced cleaning and complete disinfection of all cabins on all our aircraft departing from Dubai.

“Our crew are trained to handle various medical incidents onboard, and since the Covid-19 outbreak began, we have been providing our crew community with regular updates on staying safe while on duty and the actions to take if they feel unwell. Our crew members, who operate flights with confirmed cases on-board, undergo health screening.”

The airline said it would not comment on individual cases.

Passengers transiting Dubai International Airport go through thermal scanners before boarding connecting flights.

Dubai Health Authority conducts nasal swabs on passengers arriving from Beijing, Beirut, Rome, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Bangkok and Phuket, if Dubai was their final destination.

Passengers were given DHA’s health declaration forms that needed to be handed over during the testing.

DHA declined to comment on specific cases but said it is following all World Health Organisation protocols.

In India, the country has suspended all visas granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan that were issued on or before March 3 to prevent an outbreak.

Regular and electronic visas issued to nationals from these countries was suspended with immediate effect, according to a Covid-19 revised travel advisory from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India.

This is in addition to cancellation of visas to Chinese nationals from February 5, the ministry said.

As part of the new guidelines, passengers on all international flights entering the country from any port must furnish details of their travel history in a declaration form to health and immigration authorities.

Indian and foreign travellers who entered the country from a transit destination after boarding a flight from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan will also undergo medical screening at the port of entry.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to not panic and work together to prevent the spread of the virus.

Global coronavirus cases passed 109,000 on Monday, while at least 3,800 deaths have been reported so far.