The Central government on Tuesday issued an advisory suspending visas for nationals coming from countries severely affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The advisory informs that all regular visas and E-visas (including visa on arrival) granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan on or before March 3 and who have not entered India yet stand "suspended with immediate effect".
The advisory notes that all visas granted to foreign nationals who travelled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan on or after February 1, 2020 stand suspended.
The advisory states that all passengers (foreign and Indian) who arrived directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan must undergo medical screening at their port of entry.
Passengers arriving on all other international fights are required to furnish self-declaration forms, which include their travel history.
The advisory advises Indians to refrain from travelling to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy and avoid non-essential travel to all other countries affected by coronavirus.
India had suspended visas to nationals from China in early February.
More flights affected
The Cochin International Airport in Kochi on Monday announced cancellation of services to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Services of Saudi Airlines to Jeddah and Malindo Air have been suspended till the second week of March. However, both airlines have denied that the cancellation of services is on account of the coronavirus.
Services of Saudi Airline have been cancelled on the following dates: March 4, 8, 9, 10 and 13.Malindo Air flights from Kochi to Kuala Lumpur will also not operate on March 2, 4, 9, 10 and 14.
Air India crew in isolation
After the Union Health Ministry announced on Monday that a Delhi resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus, the Air India crew who had flown the Vienna-Delhi flight on February 25 on which he was the passenger have been asked to stay in isolation at their homes for 14 days, officials said. The passenger had been in Italy.
"The crew members of February 25 Vienna-Delhi flight will remain in isolation for 14 days at their respective homes. If, during this period, they show any symptoms related to novel coronavirus infection, they have to immediately contact doctors," the officials told PTI.
Update on Wuhan evacuees
The ITBP on Tuesday announced that no fresh symptoms of Coronavirus were seen among the 112 Wuhan evacuees at its Chhawla Quarantine facility in New Delhi.
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The group consists of 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals.
The expected quarantine period is 14 days. The second sampling is expected to be done on 14th day of quarantine period and if that also results as negative, then all 112 persons will be released from the Centre.
