Kerala govt declares coronavirus as state calamity

The Kerala government on Monday declared novel coronavirus epidemic as a "state calamity" with a third student testing positive for the infection in the state.

State Health Minister K K Shailaja told reporters that the government has declared the epidemic as a "state calamity" to take all necessary steps to ensure the outbreak is effectively controlled.

The decision was taken at the apex committee of the State Disaster Management Authority chaired by Chief Secretary Tom Jose.