With the surge in the number of positive cases of coronavirus in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday asked airports and airlines to take specific measures in order to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.
The aviation regulator asked the airports and airlines to equip ground handling staff, crew members and passengers with protective gears such as surgical masks and gloves.
Airports are also asked to provide adequate hand sanitizing facilities, the DGCA added.
Also read: Restrictions on people from India, Bangladesh from entering Kuwait
The DGCA also stated that airports and airlines must ensure that each aircraft arriving from South Korea, Japan and Italy is subjected to disinfection process before the boarding begins for the next flight on the plane.
“All ground handling staff entering inbound and outbound international flights shall be provided with personnel protective equipments (PPEs) and such PPEs shall be disposed of in an appropriate manner after each flight,” the DGCA circular said.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Tuesday issued an advisory which stated that visas /e-visas that had been granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan on or before March 3 had been suspended with immediate effect.
“All regular (sticker) visas/e-visa (including VoA for Japan and South Korea) granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea andJapan and issued on or before March 3, 2020 and who have not yet entered India, stand suspended with immediate effect. Such foreign nationals may not enter India from any Air, Land or Seaport ICPs. Those requiring to travel to India due to compelling reasons, may seek fresh visa from nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate,” it added.
