NEW DELHI: Now passengers coming on flights from Italy and Iran will be screened on arrival in India for coronavirus The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Monday expanded the number of countries for universal screening of passengers. Earlier, passengers coming on flights from China, Hong Kong, Japan South Korea , Thailand, Singapore, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia were being screened. However, now flyers from Italy and Iran will also be screened. Air India (AI) is the only Indian carrier that flies to Italy, Japan and South Korea. “We are reducing frequency of these flights,” said AI chairman Rajiv Bansal.While no Indian carriers fly to Iran, India had last Thursday asked Iran Air and Mahan Air that fly from Tehran to Delhi and Mumbai to temporarily suspend the flights.“In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Corona Virus 2019) disease in India, it has been decided to expand the universal screening of all passengers arriving in flights from Italy and Iran besides the flights from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Universal screening of all passengers coming in flights from Italy and Iran besides the flights from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia shall be ensured immediately once they step out of the specific locations at all the airports and getting the self-declaration form filled by the passengers as per the instructions of the ministry of health and family welfare,” a DGCA order issued Monday said, adding: “All airlines shall make in-flight announcement in flights coming from these countries and ensure strict compliance.”