Bengaluru: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised India for its efforts in taking preventive measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus. 

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had conducted random testing of 1,020 individuals showing symptoms of pneumonia and influenza.

Out of these, results of 500 of these samples are out and have tested negative. The results for the rest 520 will be determined today, as reported by a popular website. 

As reported by The Indian Express, WHO Country Representative Dr Henk Bekedam said, “The MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) is monitoring the situation daily and India has managed to keep cases low by responding fast and aggressively. There is high-level involvement from the Prime Minister’s Office, which translates into intensified state- and field-level action. So far, all the cases in India are linked to index cases traceable through human-to-human transmission.”

The newspaper also quoted ICMR Director General (DG) Balram Bhargava as saying, “It is reassuring that at the moment there is no evidence to indicate community outbreak.” 

But he had a word of caution. He said, “It is too early to say that we have contained the virus. How strongly we close our borders… should help. We cannot say that community transmission will not happen.”

It should be noted that the ICMR’s community transmission random test is running parallel to the testing and tracking of symptomatic travellers, symptomatic contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases, and healthcare workers. Non-symptomatic travellers or contacts are so far not being tested.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly and fervently appealed to the countrymen not to travel unnecessarily and take preventive measures like washing hands and wearing face masks. 

He also held a videoconferencing with SAARC nations and urged to work in a spirit of harmony and also sought to set up an emergency fund.  

Testing By ICMR Shows No Community Transmission