Coronavirus: How India is preparing for tougher challenges ahead

NEW DELHI: Amid looming fears of coronavirus infection entering the community transmission stage, India is boosting its overall health infrastructure by initiating measures like designating dedicated hospitals for affected patients in states, ramping up procurement of ventilators and mobilising resources of Railways and armed forces to deal with any eventuality.

As of now, the country reported 873 coronavirus cases and 19 deaths.

Even though the Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been insisting that there is “no solid evidence” of community transmission so far, the government has started scaling up health infrastructure to deal with any situation.

Here’s how India is boosting capacity for tougher challenges ahead:

The Centre has asked all states to earmark hospitals only for treating COVID-19 patients and ramp up thei