On Thursday, the Union minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan said that one out of 100 nurses mostly from Kerala has been infected by the deadly coronavirus and was being treated for the same.

Clarifying the information, a health ministry affiliate in the Kingdom revealed that the nurse was not affected by the coronavirus. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah clarified on Twitter that the nurse found positive for coronavirus was suffering for MERS-CoV and not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan).

"Dr Tarik Al Azraqi, Chairman, Scientific Regional Infection Control Committee, Aseer Region, has confirmed that the Indian nurse being treated at Aseer National Hospital is suffering from MERS-CoV and not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan). We request everyone to refrain from sharing incorrect information," read their tweet. Meanwhile, the Saudi health ministry affiliate also clarified there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom so far.

The coronavirus strain that emerged in China’s Wuhan has infected about 830 people and left 25 people dead in China. The virus, which can pass from person to person is raising concerns about its spread through international air travel.

To constrain the spread of the virus, the civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to undertake thermal screening of passengers arriving from China in seven airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.