As toll reaches 4, cases 197, all global flights banned from landing in India from March 22 for a week; States told to enforce work from home wherever possible
India will cut itself off from the rest of the world to tackle the coronavirus outbreak as the Government on Thursday took extreme measures ranging from banning all international commercial passenger flights from landing here from March 22 for one week and asking the States to enforce work from home, even in private sectors.
The Government also directed suspension of concessional travel, except for students, patients and divyang.
In the meantime, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) postponed Class X and XII examinations, which were to start from Thursday itself.
The Government has also advised the citizens above 65 and children below 10 to remain indoor even as it assured the general public there is no community transmission of the disease in the country so far and there are sufficient medical devices like masks for safety.
In the meantime, the States continue to report the viral cases which surged to 197 including four fatalities, the latest one from Punjab on Thursday. There were more than 20 fresh cases in last 24 hours with Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh reporting their first COVID-19 patients early on Thursday. One Indian who tested positive for coronavirus died in Iran while other infected Indian citizens are being provided treatment and taken care of by the Iranian Government.
The Government has also asked railways and Civil Aviation Ministries to suspend all concessional travel on trains and flights, except for students, patients and divyang.
The Centre has requested the States to enforce work from home for private sector employees, except for those working in emergency and essential services.
“State Governments shall issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance) except for public representatives or Government servants or medical professionals are advised to remain at home,” the Government statement noted.
To reduce huge gatherings, all group B and C category of Central Government employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate weeks, and there will be “staggered timings” for all employees.
The move comes after the Central Government allowed its 50 per cent employees to work from home and remaining to have staggered working hours. The Ministry said the Pharmaceutical Department and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs have been asked to take necessary action against anyone charging exorbitant prices for masks, sanitisers and health-related materials.
On the steps being taken on the international front, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi said 201 Indians were evacuated from Iran on Wednesday. “On March 21 Air India would be going to Rome to bring back students or any Indians stranded there. The flight would return on March 22,” said Aviation Ministry Joint Secretary Rubina Ali. The Ministry also stated that Air India will be mounting a 787-Dreamliner to Rome on March 21 to evacuate stranded students and other travellers.
Even as it remained evasive on the cause of the positive case reported from Tamil Nadu, Union Health Ministry said there was no community transmission so far in the country and the fourth death reported from Punjab was that of an elderly person who had co-morbid conditions like diabetes and had cardiac issues.
Amid the rapid spread of the virus, several parts, including Kashmir Valley headed towards a virtual lockdown with the administration restricting movement of people in several parts and banning all public transport in Srinagar city. While Mumbai’s famed tiffin suppliers, the dabbawalas, said they are suspending their services from Friday till March 31 in view of the coronavirus situation, Punjab and the national Capital also inched towards virtual shutdown.
While the Punjab Government announced suspension of public transport services from Friday midnight and restricting public gatherings to less than 20 besides deciding to close down marriage palaces, hotels, restaurants, banquets and dining places, except home delivery services and takeaways in the entire State.
The total tally of 197 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 20 cured and four deaths reported from Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab so far. Delhi has reported 16 positive cases which includes one foreigner and three cured, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 28 cases, including one foreigner, as per the Union Health Ministry website.
Maharashtra has 48 cases, including three foreigners and one death, while Kerala has recorded 30 cases which include two foreign nationals while Karnataka has 15 coronavirus patients.
The number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu & Kashmir four. Telangana has reported 7 cases which include two foreigners. Rajasthan has also reported ten cases including that of two foreigners. Tamil Nadu has three cases so far. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Pondicherry, Chandigarh and Punjab have reported one case each. In Haryana, there are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners.
In the national Capital, the upscale Sunder Nagar market in South Delhi has been closed till March 31 in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the traders’ body said. It is the first market to shut down in the capital.