The number of novel coronavirus cases on Friday rose to 82, which includes a 68-year-old woman, who died in Delhi and 76-year-old man succumbs to his illness in Karnataka, the Health Ministry officials said while cautioning against panicking, saying the situation so far is “not a health emergency”.

Addressing reporters, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Aggarwal said besides three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery, seven more coronavirus infected patients have been cured and they will be discharged soon.

“The remaining 71 are clinically stable,” he said. The 82 figure also include 16 Italians and one Canadian. On invocation of the Epidemic Act by the Centre, Aggarwal said,”It is not a health emergency.”

With the World Health Organisation declaring novel coronavirus a pandemic, Aggarwal said that 4,000 people who had come in contact with the 82 positive cases have been identified through contract tracing and were being tracked while 42,000 people across the country are under community surveillance.

He said all essential facilities like community surveillance, quarantine, isolation wards, adequate PPEs, trained manpower, rapid response teams are being strengthened further in all states and UTs.

He informed so far, 1,031 persons including 48 nationals have been evacuated from countries such as Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru.