More on Covid-19

NEW DELHI: In measures aimed at containing Covid-19, the government on Monday extended the travel ban beyond affected countries and prohibited entry of all passengers, including Indian nationals, from the European Union, European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the UK to India with effect from March 18.The government also expanded compulsory quarantine for minimum 14 days for passengers coming from or transiting through the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.On Monday, the health ministry reported 114 confirmed positive cases of Covid-19. Of these, 13 cases are cured, whereas two patients with co-morbidities died. The total 114 positive cases include 97 Indians and 17 foreigners.With reference to the EU, EFTA, Turkey and UK, the new travel advisory said, “No airline shall board passenger from these nations to India with effect from 1200 GMT on March 18. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.” The decision was taken after a high-level group of ministers (GoM) meeting on Monday.A senior airline official said, “At this moment, given the restrictions, the option for people to travel between India and Europe/UK/Turkey include flying first to the Far East, to Thailand (Thai), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Malaysia (Malaysian) or to Bangladesh (Biman to London), Colombo (Sri Lankan to London). They can also use Gulf carriers and Aeroflot (taking connections from Moscow). Some of the options will mean quarantine on return.” The options for US are non-stops of Air India and United (will announce 50% truncated network soon). A senior AI official said the airline will suspend its UK flights from March 18.Last week, the government suspended almost all visas and even passenger traffic on several border check-posts to protect further import of infected cases from abroad. The move came in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases globally and the World Health Organization declaring it a global pandemic.International travellers with symptoms associated with Covid-19 who have so far entered India have also been advised home quarantine where they are monitored for more serious indications. Travellers from affected countries named by the government have to undergo quarantine at an official facility. Depending on norms and protocols, travellers are either quarantined at Army facilities or advised home isolation.Besides travel-related instructions — which will be in force till March 31 and will be reviewed subsequently — the government also proposed ‘social distancing measures’ as a preventive strategy. This includes closure of all educational institutions, gyms, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools and theatres. This is in the nature of advisories for states but intends to bring about uniformity in action and underline the need to curb large congregations.The private sector has been encouraged to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible and meetings to be done through video-conferences to avoid people coming together unless necessary.“Contact tracing activity of these positive cases has led to identification of around 5,287 people, who are kept under rigorous observation,” health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said. Apart from these contacts, another 40,000 people are under active community surveillance.Responding to calls for more testing, the government maintained there was “no need to unnecessarily panic and carry out unnecessary testing” as India was still at stage II with limited localised transmission of the virus. Aggarwal said travel restrictions were further tightened to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from high-risk areas.As a preventive measure, local authorities have been advised to have a dialogue with “opinion leaders and religious leaders to regulate mass gatherings and should ensure no overcrowding or at least one metre distance between people”.Local authorities have been asked to instruct trader associations and other stakeholders to regulate hours, exhibit do’s and don’ts, and take up communication drives in market places like sabzi mandi, anaj mandi, bus depots, railway stations and post-offices where essential services are provided.Similarly, organisers of sporting events and competitions are advised to postpone such events. Restaurants should ensure handwashing protocol and proper cleanliness of frequently touched surfaces. The health ministry also activated a toll-free 24x7 national helpline number, 1075, to address queries related to the infection on Monday. The previous helpline number, 011-239 78046, will also remain operational.