Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday said no case of coronavirus had been reported in the state so far and that the government was closely monitoring the situation.

A release from the chief minister’s office said altogether 37 people, kept in the isolation ward of GB Panth Hospital here, had tested negative.

“Several medical teams have been deployed at various entry points like airport, railway stations and integrated checkposts to screen travellers. Besides, arrangements for special isolation wards have been made at GB Pant Hospital and Tripura Medical College. Around 170 medical officers across the state were trained for the past three days at Pragna Bhawan here to deal with the situation,” said Deb, who also holds the health portfolio.

The chief minister said his government has enforced the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, meant for containment of epidemics by providing special powers, required for the implementation of containment measures to control the spread of the disease.

“Provision of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, was enforced in Tripura so that any measure can be taken at any place to prevent the virus’s spread. We have also alerted all district magistrates,” the release said, quoting Deb.

The chief minister said the international border had been sealed, except the Agartala-Akhaura integrated checkpost. He urged people not to spread rumours and visit the nearest healthcare institutions if they have coronavirus symptoms.

“Altogether 50,000 leaflets with awareness messages in local languages will be printed and distributed across the state.”

Chief secretary Manoj Kumar has issued a memorandum to all eight district magistrates, superintendents of police, municipal commissioners and chief medical officers, asking them to take additional measures.

The memorandum said the administrations may designate inspection teams to ensure sanitization drives.

“Awareness messages can be announced through public address systems at the Dharmanagar and Agartala rail stations and inter-state bus terminus. Any passenger with coronavirus symptoms or international travel history should report to the helpdesks set up for the purpose,” the memorandum read.

Kumar said widespread awareness measures should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Quarantine facilities may be created at all district headquarters, while medical officers should inform about any patient with coronavirus symptoms or international travel history to the state/district surveillance unit. Permission for mass gathering and meetings should not be given unless extremely essential,” the memorandum added.