The Indian government has decided not to allow any scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft to land in the country for one week with effect from March 22.
The temporary measures have been announced to contain the spread of Covid-19 or coronavirus.
Addressing a press conference Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, ministry of health and family welfare said: “No commercial aircraft shall land in India after midnight falling between March 21 and March 22 till midnight falling between March 28 and March 29.”
However, the decision will be reviewed later.
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“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,” the health ministry said in its advisory.
According to an advisory issued by the ministry, “all children below 10 should be advised to stay at home and not to venture out”.
“Railways and civil aviation shall suspend all concessional travel except for students, patients, and divyang category,” the ministry said in a statement.
All the states have also been requested to enforce work for home for private sector employees except those working in emergency/essential services.
“To reduce crowding all Group B and C central government employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate week and staggered timings for all employees,” said the advisory.
The coronavirus or COVID-19 has affected 176 countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan).
Globally, at least 8,648 people have died from COVID-19, as the illness is officially known, while 207,000 cases have been reported as ‘confirmed’, according to the World Health Organization.