Seventy-three confirmed coronavirus cases and counting. Fifteen hundred people who came into contact with these 73 Covid-19 positive cases under observation. With alarms bells ringing loud and clear, India, in an unprecedented move, has effectively closed its borders by suspending visas of all incoming passengers barring some select categories till April 15.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today told the Lok Sabha that Indian nationals, except those holding OCI cards (Overseas Citizens of India) will be permitted to come back to India. But if any of these Indians are returning from a coronavirus-affected country, they will have to go through the mandatory screening and a 14-day quarantine.
India’s travel ban will exempt those holding diplomatic, official or international organization visas.
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The government has also decided to ask all states and union territories to invoke provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 to ensure that all advisories being issued from time to time by the government are enforceable. The National Disaster Management Act too has been evoked to deal with this virus.
The External Affairs Minister also told the Parliament that efforts are being undertaken to rescue the Indian nationals struck in Iran and they shall be allowed to travel after their samples are tested. Facilities have already been established in Iran to test the samples, he added.
Meanwhile, the government has advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan also told the Parliament that more than 10.57 lakh passengers have been screened at airports for the deadly virus. The Minister assured the House that samples are being collected strictly and there is no negligence in this regard.
India has also set up 15 laboratories to test the samples that are being collected, with the National Institute of Virology in Pune, leading those efforts.
The Health Ministry has also said that one lakh testing kits are currently available in India and more such kits were being procured.