india

Updated: Mar 04, 2020 03:39 IST

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked airlines and airports on Tuesday to equip ground handling staff, aircraft crew members, and other staff with protective gear such as surgical masks and gloves to protect themselves from the corona virus (COVID-19). It added that passengers should also be provided with personnel protective equipment (PPE) inside the aircraft.

Airports and airlines have also been ordered to ensure that each aircraft arriving from South Korea, Japan and Italy are properly disinfected before the boarding begins for the next flight.

“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... after each flight,” the circular said.

“Adequate hand sanitising facilities should also be made available at the airports.”

The government issued an advisory, suspending visas and e-visas granted on or before March 3 for four affected countries — Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan. “All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visa (including VoA for Japan and South Korea) granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and issued on or before 03.03.2020 and who have not yet entered India, stand suspended with immediate effect.”

IRAN-RETURNED ARMY OFFICER QUARANTINED

An Army officer was admitted to the isolation ward of a military hospital at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday for suspected exposure to the coronavirus after returning from Iran, a health official said here. The 32-year-old officer returned on February 25 from Tehran, Iran’s capital. Doctors say his condition is stable.