Ramaswami: With the disease spreading further internationally and with an increase in the number of people coming to Kerala from foreign countries, the possibility of COVID-19 being reported in the state was taken seriously. All district medical officers were instructed to prepare isolation facilities in medical colleges, general hospitals, district hospitals and major private hospitals in their respective districts. Directives were issued on the requirements pertaining to hospital isolation and home quarantine as well. On January 24 itself, a control room was set up in the directorate of health services. On January 25, required guidelines were issued to health officials and local self governments on the measures to be adopted. By January 28, control rooms were set up in the districts as well.