Bhubaneswar, March 3 (IANS): An Uttar Pradesh-based couple, who returned from China, has been admitted at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha's Cuttack for suspected novel coronavirus, an official said on Tuesday.

The Paradip Port Hospital on Tuesday referred the couple to undergo coronavirus test at SCB Medical College and Hospital.

A cargo ship with 23 crew members, including the couple, had set sail from China on February 15 and arrived at Paradip Port on March 1 via Hong Kong and Singapore.

"One of the crew members is suffering from fever. There can be many reasons as the cause of the fever. As a precautionary step, we kept the person under isolation and have shifted him to SCB Medical College and Hospital," Prahallad Panda, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Paradip Port Hospital, said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said the state government is well prepared to deal with the novel coronavirus.

H said several steps have been taken in the state including the creation of isolation wards to tackle the situation.

As on Monday, 15 travellers who returned from coronavirus-affected countries after January 15 have been identified and kept under home quarantine, said a health official.