Mangaluru, Feb 5: With three novel coronavirus cases reported from neighbouring Kerala, authorities have stepped up precautionary measures including screening passengers at the harbour and international airport here.

The New Mangalore Port has implemented the Centre's Standard Operating Procedure by screening crew of cargo ships and passengers of cruise vessels for the virus.

Port sources said screening was being carried out at the harbour in the last few days.

All the 1,800 passengers and 786 crew of cruise vessel Costa Victoria that stopped at the port were screened.

Arrangements were also made for screening foreign nationals arriving at Mangalore International Airport (MIA).

Besides, passengers were also made aware about the coronavirus and precautionary steps to be taken.

According to official sources, it is difficult to screen all the passengers from Kerala as buses and trains are being operated to Mangaluru daily from the neighbouring state.

District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer Naveenchandra Kulal said the Health and Family Welfare department has appealed to people, who have arrived from coronavirus-affected areas to Mangaluru, to contact the department in case of emergency.

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Prague (PTI): World Champion D Gukesh has categorically stated that the problems around cheating in chess are made to be bigger than its existence.

Speaking during a press conference for the Prague International festival, Gukesh said he did not support Vladimir Kramnik, a former world champion who has been infamously levelling charges against quite a few chess players suspecting cheating during online games.

“Obviously, I’m against any kind of unfair or unethical play," “It’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately," Gukesh said.

The whole world had stood out for Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky of America who died at a young age of just 29 years. Naroditsky was a famous content creator in chess who appeared to be very emotional in his last stream just days before his untimely death.

Gukesh is not the only one to join the bandwagon as earlier World number one Magnus Carlsen, FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and Indian stars Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin had also criticised Kramnik as his allegations could not be substantiated with any definite proof.

Speaking about the forthcoming Candidates tournament, Gukesh said he did not believe in favourites and that he would love to play fellow city-mate R Praggnanandhaa.

Meanwhile in the first round of the super tournament, Gukesh will face Hans Moke Niemann of United States, another player who has fought his way to top level chess. Niemann is a dangerous customer and Gukesh likes to go for complex play which insures a fighting beginning for the World Champion.

The other Indian in the fray, Aravindh Chithambaram will take on Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, a recent winner of the Tata Steel Masters.