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.
-
An abra driver wears protective gloves and a face mask in Dubai. Getty Images -
A sign showing how to prevent infection is seen in Dubai. Getty Images -
One of the staff member stands inside a Dhow Cruise which is closed as a preventive measure in Deira. Pawan Singh / The National -
An empty restaurant is pictured outside Dubai Mall. Reuters -
A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Italian flag and "We are with you" message as a sign of solidarity with Italy. AFP -
A view shows the Dubai mall almost empty of customers, as precaution amid the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai. Reuters -
An empty beach in Dubai. EPA -
People walk past shops in Dubai's Deira Souk on on March 15, 2020. AFP -
Workers clean outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 15, 2020. EPA -
A man wearing a protective mask walks down the street in Dubai on March 16, 2020. AFP -
A near-empty tourist boat crosses Dubai's marina on March 16, 2020. AFP -
A man wears a protective mask at the shopping mall in Dubai. Reuters -
A school gate is closed with a chain and lock in Dubai. AFP -
Commuters wear protective masks on the metro in Dubai, March 12. Reuters -
An attendant wears a protective face mask while using a fuel pump at an Eppco gas station in Dubai on March 10. Bloomberg -
A member of cleaning staff disinfects a seat screen of an Emirates Airbus A380 on March 5. Reuters -
A worker with a face mask disembarks from a bus at the Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal area on March 5. Victor Besa / The National -
Commuters, some wearing protective face masks, ride the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the UAE on March 8. AFP -
A traveller wears a mask at the Dubai International Airport on March 8. Reuters -
A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, speaks on a mobile phone while riding the metro in Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg -
A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, walks in Downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk in downtown Dubai, on March 5. Bloomberg -
Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk after exiting a metro station in downtown Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg -
A commuter, wearing protective face mask, walks through a metro station in downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
Commuters wearing protective face masks use smartphones on the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
UAE landmarks were lit up for in solidarity with China’s efforts to contain coronavirus, Covid-19 in March. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to accelerate, according to officials. Wam
“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.
