Karnataka rushes to screen passengers, colleagues after

The Karnataka government on Tuesday said it has taken all required precautionary measures to control the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state and requested people not to panic.

Health Minister B Sriramulu convened a meeting of top officials of his department following information that the man, who tested positive for the virus in Telangana, had travelled from the city.

A Health department official said the man, who was working in Bengaluru, had travelled to Secunderabad on the night of February 21 in a private bus.

"All the passengers (of the bus) and (his) colleagues have been contacted and are under house-quarantine," the official said, adding, passengers who were with him on the flight from Dubai are also being contacted.

Also, people who worked with the techie have been asked to work from home.

"I appeal to people not to fear or panic. The government, the health and family welfare department and medical education department has taken all precautionary measures," Sriramulu told reporters here.

"We have taken precautionary measures at ports, airports and also conducting blood, required tests on people and tourists coming from other places," he said.

According to the minister, till now 39,391 foreign travellers have been screened and blood samples of 245 people collected.

Tests were conducted on 240 people and their result has come out as negative, he said, adding that report of two more was awaited, and "unofficially we have come to know they are also negative."