The first case of Coronavirus in India has been confirmed in the southern state of Kerala.

Health officials on Thursday confirmed that one individual, who was studying in a university in Wuhan, had tested positive.

"One positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient, of a student studying in Wuhan University, has been reported in Kerala," the Health Ministry said.

Addressing the media, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said, “We had sent 20 samples, of which 10 samples turned out to be negative. One result has turned out to be positive.”

While the test results of others were awaited, the female student is being monitored and has been listed stable.

Shailaja added that the state was vigilant and had already quarantined over 800 people.

“Contact tracing is important and we have told everyone who has come back from China to be in home quarantine. We have told them not to go to public places for some time,” she said.

A laboratory operator puts on protective gear before handling patients' samples at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. More than 4,500 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in China. Several cases have been detected in France, USA and elsewhere.
A laboratory operator puts on protective gear before handling patients' samples at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. AFP / Thomas SAMSON
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