New Delhi: Amid mounting concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus in the country, the Union government on Thursday issued a set of fresh guidelines and said no international flights would be allowed to land in India for the next one week.
“No international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week,” the advisory issued by the health ministry said.
It directed the state governments to issue appropriate directions advising people above the age of 65 and children below 10 to remain at home.
“State governments shall issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance) except for public representatives/govt. Servants/medical professionals are advised to remain at home. Similarly all children below 10 should be advised to stay at home and not to venture out,” it said.
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The advisory urged Railways and civil aviation to suspend all concessional travel except for students, patients and divyang category.
“States are being requested to to enforce work from home for private sector employees except those working in emergency/essential services,” it said.
The advisory further said that all Group B and C level Central government employees would be asked to attend offices on alternate week to reduce crowding.
The health ministry issued the fresh guidelines on a day when India reported its fourth coronavirus-related death in Punjab. The 72-year-old man, who had returned from Germany via Italy a fortnight ago, was admitted to a hospital after severe chest pain and was found to be positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in India reached 169 after 18 fresh cases were reported from various parts of the country on Thursday. Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh reported their first COVID 19 case on Thursday.
The total tally of 169 include 25 foreign nationals—17 from Italy, 3 from the Philippines, two from the UK, one each belonging to Canada, Indonesia and Singapore.
The figure also includes four deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab so far.
Given the gravity of the situation, most of the states and UTs have imposed restrictions, inching towards partial shutdown in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
