NEW DELHI, Mar 19, 2020 (BSS) – India, as part of its escalated measurers
to fight against the spread of Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), would not allow
landing of all commercial international passenger aircraft in the country
from March 22.
“No scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed
to land in India from March 22, 2020 for one week,” said an official
announcement here this afternoon hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
address to nation.
Besides, the central instructed states to enforce work-from-home protocol
for all private sector employees, except essential services to prevent spread
of the pandemic that had claimed 8,000 lives and infected more than two lakh
people worldwide.
“States are being requested to enforce work from home for private sector
employees except for those working in emergency/essential services,” the
statement read.
The government advised its citizens above 65 to stay at home unless they
are public representatives or doctors or government employees. It also asked
people to keep children below 10 at home.
Railways and airlines have been asked to suspend all concessional travel
except for students, patients and persons with disabilities.
All group B and C central government employees have been asked to attend
office on alternate weeks, with staggered timings, according to the
announcement.
India is currently struggling with stage-2 of the Covid-19 outbreak, with a
total of 169 positives cases and four deaths. The latest death has been
reported from Punjab, which had two positive cases of covid-19, according to
health ministry sources.
The fourth victim, a known case of diabetes and hypertension, is a 70-year-
old man. He had a travel history in Germany and Italy.