As the Coronavirus outbreak reaches India, here’s all that you need to know. By Kumar Shree
With 28 reported cases at the time of writing this article (11:43 am, March 04, 2020), even though India has one of the lowest number of Coronavirus cases in the entire of South Asia, the number is shooting up at an alarming rate. India is taking all possible precautions to contain the spread and to isolate, quarantine, and cure the affected people. Numerous travel restrictions have already been put in place. Here’s the latest Coronavirus update from India.
1. Total Number Of Cases
A total of 28 cases have been reported from India, where, three of them have been reportedly cured. As of now there are 19 active cases in India. The three cured cases were also the first to be reported in India. All the individuals were students who had returned to India from Wuhan, China, which is one of the worst-affected region. No deaths have been reported so far due to COVID-19.
2. Affected Regions
As of now, all of these identified cases have come from four regions in India. These are Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
3. Travel Restrictions
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have been releasing updated travel advisory in view of COVID-19. Its latest release came on March 4 and has seven crucial points. All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visa granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korean, and Japan, including visa-on-arrival for Japan and South Korea issued on or before March 3, 2020 stands cancelled with immediate effect, if the individual has not already entered India. Apart from this, the earlier visa suspensions for the Peoples Republic of China remain in force.
4. Screenings and Quarantines
People travelling to India from Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam will have to go through thermal screenings at the airports for abnormal body temperatures. Those with abnormal temperatures will be separated for further investigation. Individuals travelling from these countries and/or any international flight will need to leave their contact details with the authorities. Those who do not oblige will be denied entry. Travellers from China will be quarantined for 14 days.
5. For more information
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is posting regular updates on its website. You can also call on the 24×7 helpline number +91-11-23978046 for personalised queries and updates. One can also mail them at nocov2019@gmail.com.
Related:Everything You Need To Know About Travel Advisories Around Coronavirus
