The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic, India suspends Visas till 15th April 20
The coronavirus sweeping across the world is a pandemic, the World Health Organization declared yesterday, March 11. There are now over 118,000 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in 114 countries around the world.
“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.
India imposed stringent travel curbs to the country. India’s count of infected people is 62 with no confirmed deaths so far from the disease.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its latest travel advisory, issued on March 10, has said all visas, including e-visas, granted to nationals of France, Germany, and Spain on or before March 11, stand suspended. This only applies to visa holders who have not yet entered Indian borders.
The ministry has also suspended visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to France, Spain, and Germany on or after 1.2.2020.
The Health Ministry also advised all passengers with a travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain, and Germany to undergo a self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the of their arrival from these countries. “If such passengers are working in some organizations/institutions, their respective employers are advised to facilitate work from home during this period,” the advisory said.
France, Germany, and Spain have now been added to the list of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan, upon whom the Health Ministry had imposed similar restrictions. The visas of nationals of these counties issued on or before March 6 were suspended by the Ministry.
In another travel advisory issued last week, the Ministry had said that travellers from Italy and South Korea would have to carry a ‘No COVID-19’ certificate issued by designated health authorities in these countries before they are allowed to enter India.
The ministry has also advised all Indians to avoid non-essential travel abroad. The ministry advised all international passengers to self-monitor their health and follow the ‘Do’s and Dont’s’ on COVID-19, which have been detailed by the government.
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