Coronavirus: Who all can't travel to India

NEW DELHI: In order to insulate India from the global spread of novel coronavirus, the second Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting on Wednesday took the decision to restrict entry of travellers from across the world. While the world has recorded over a lakh

Covid-19

cases, India has so-far reported 63 confirmed cases.


Majority of the patients in India are people who recently returned from either of the highly-affected countries and further ended up infecting family and peers.

Here is all you need to know about who can and cannot travel to India:

* All existing visas to India stand suspended till April 15 except those issued for diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment and project purposes. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

* Visa free travel facility granted to OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) card holder is kept abeyance till April 15. This comes into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13.

* Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reasons will have to contact the nearest Indian mission.

* All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come in to effect from 1200 GMT on March 13.

The GoM statement has also advised Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. It further warned that travellers could be subjected to a minimum of 14 days quarantine. India will also guard its land borders with designated check posts equipped with screening facilities.

The GoM in its statement said that provision will be made for students/compassionate cases in Italy to collect samples. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days.