Dr Randeep Guleria
Dr Randeep Guleria. Image credit - Facebook

The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) director, Dr Randeep Guleria on Saturday said there is a minimum chance that COVID-19 or coronavirus could make its entry into Northeast.

The statement assumes significance at a time when states across India are spending sleepless nights following the threat of novel coronavirus or COVID-19.

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โ€œThe virus is basically coming with people who are coming from abroad. In this situation there is no chance that it can make inroads to Northeast,โ€ Dr Guleria told Northeast Now.

Guleria hailed the governmentโ€™s decision of suspending all visas till April 15.

Flights between major cities of Bangladesh and India have also been suspended due to the virus.

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As a preventive measure, the northeastern states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have banned the entry of foreigners.

Manipur has also imposed restrictions on the movements of people along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Dr Guleria said AIIMS is all set to face any emergency.

โ€œWe have set up a COVID-19 task force comprising various departments of AIIMS. We are regularly monitoring and reviewing the situation in India,โ€ said Dr Guleria.

As on Saturday, 83 positive COVID-19 cases have been detected in India. Two persons, who were infected by coronavirus, have died in the country including one reported from Karnataka and another from Delhi.