Due to the spreading coronavirus scare and following the recent deaths of a couple of people in India the Indian government has announced that no international commercial passenger aircraft would be allowed to land in the country from March 22 for a week. The instructions were issued by the Press Information Bureau on 19th March 2020.
it may be recalled that last week, in an unprecedented move, India decided to suspend all visas, barring select categories, till April 15, effectively closing its borders for a month. According to the reports all the visas except that of diplomats, officials and international organisations.
“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/ international organisations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure. Visa-free travel facility granted to OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cardholders is kept in abeyance till April 15th, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.
Following the outbreak, in China, the coronavirus has spread across the world affecting majorly the western countries like UK and USA. There are hundreds of thousands of cases and the death toll has reached several thousand.
India wants to keep itself isolated to make sure the virus does not spread in the country since we do not have enough facilities to take care of 1.4 billion population.
According to reports, No airline will bring any passenger from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom effective 12.00 GMT on March 18 at port of departure. No airline will bring any passenger from Philippines, Malaysia, and Afghanistan said the sources.
The report further states that All passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait after 12.00 GMT on March 18 (port of departure) will be quarantined. Those who have visited China, Republic of Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, France and Germany on or after Feb 15 will be quarantined.
According to the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, effective 12 noon GMT on March 18 at the port of departure, no airline will bring any passenger from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.
According to the reports, only after the 15th of April, the picture will become more clear on the entry of people coming to India from other countries. The quarantine is the only way to keep the country safe at the moment. Please share your views on this subject.
Source: Indian Express
