Coronavirus Effect: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by India
NEW DELHI : Countries around the world are increasingly adopting sweeping measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, including shutting down airports, imposing travel restrictions and completely sealing their borders.
The outbreak of the coronavirus has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Below is a list of countries that have taken such measures in recent days. Travellers should visit government websites for updated information and more details.
The steps came after India recorded 173 active Covid-19 cases till 5 p.m. on Thursday, including 25 foreign national, as per the data provided by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Amid the growing number of positive coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the country, the government on Thursday said that no international flight will be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week.
It also asked the state governments to issue appropriate directions to all citizens above 65 years of age to remain at home. The government said in a statement, “No scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week.”
No international flights will be allowed to land in India from Sunday for a week, the government announced today escalating measures to fight coronavirus. In a notice hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation, the government also urged work from home for most and said those below 10 and above 65 should stay home.
The steps came after India recorded 173 active Covid-19 cases till 5 p.m. on Thursday, including 25 foreign national, as per the data provided by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Four people have succumbed to the dreaded virus so far — one each in Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Punjab.
The statement further said that the state governments will issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 years of age (other than for medical assistance), except for public representative, government servants and medical professionals, are advised to remain at home.
The government also said that all children below 10 years of age should be advised to stay at home and not venture out.”Railways and civil aviation authorities shall suspend all concessional travel, except for students, patients and disabled persons,” it said.
The government further said that the states are being requested to enforce work from home for private sector employees except those working in emergency or essential services. The government also said that all Group B and Group C Central government employees will be asked to attend office on alternate weeks besides suggesting staggered timings for all the employees.
Coronavirus cases in India climbed to 173 on Thursday after 18 new cases were reported. To check the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed over 8,000 lives globally and infected more than two lakh, India had already suspended visas for the vast majority of foreigners seeking to enter the country.
A fourth death from coronavirus, that of a 70-year-old man who had travelled to Germany, was reported from Punjab today. The other deaths were reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Punjab became the first state to announce the suspension of public transport services from Friday midnight, besides restricting public gatherings to less than 20.
The centre has asked 50 per cent of its employees to work from home besides staggering working hours for its staff. India remains at Stage 2 of the outbreak, which means the spread is through local transmission, which can be traced. The health ministry said there is no evidence of community transmission yet, in which it is hard to tell how the patient contracted the virus.
