Three passengers test positive for coronavirus at Kolkata airport

India's Airport Authority said today that two passengers who arrived at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport(NSCBI) airport in Kolkata from Bangkok have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

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In all, at least three passengers have tested positive for the virus in Kolkata.

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The passengers were shifted to Beliaghata ID Hospital, Kaushik Bhattacharjee, the director of the airport said. The virus was reportedly discovered after thermal screening.

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Two airlines which had direct flights between Kolkata and China have suspended their flights.

"In line with the WHO guideline to contain the spread of coronavirus, IndiGo will be suspending its Kolkata-Guangzhou service from February 6, 2020 to February 25, 2020 and Guangzhou-Kolkata from February 7 till February 26," the airline had said in a statement.

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China Eastern Airlines has also suspended flights between Kolkata and Kunming in China from February 10 to February 29.

The detection of the virus at Kolkata airport comes after China's health ministry announced 242 deaths on a single day in Hubei province.

Hubei's health commission said another 14,840 new cases were reported in the area.