Till Friday evening, India has reported a total of 31 cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). The recent case was that of a man from Delhi who had travelled to Malaysia and Thailand. One more foreign tourist who had travelled through Mumbai, Kolkata, Assam and had taken a 7-day Brahmaputra cruise was diagnosed with the coronavirus in Bhutan. Due to this, Bhutan has banned all tourist arrivals for almost two weeks. To stop the contamination, the Indian government too has taken certain measures. Following are the measures you need to know:

Coronavirus update: entry restrictions on travellers

• Visas granted to foreign nationals who had travelled to China, Iran, South Korea Italy and Japan on or after 1st February are cancelled. Visas granted to Chinese citizens–excluding those already in India has also been cancelled.
• Visas granted to citizens of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan after 3rd March are withdrawn.
• The government has stated that all persons who enter India are being screened at all ports of entry. Each one has to provide a self-declaration form and their travel history to health and immigration officials at all the ports.
• Furthermore, passengers who are travelling from or have visited Italy or Republic of Korea and wish to enter India needs to produce a “coronavirus-free” certificate from health authorities of these countries.
• Sikkim has also decided to prohibit entry to foreigners and has imposed a blanket ban for consent to visit the Nathu La pass which borders China.
• The Ministry of Health has urged all mass gatherings to be “postponed or avoided”.
• All primary schools in Delhi will remain closed till 31st March.
• ISKCON has temporarily prohibited foreigners from its Vrindavan temple and had asked devotees to wear masks before entering the temple.

Coronavirus: advisories and helplines

• The government has urged Indian citizens not travel to China, Republic of Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan, and to avoid all unnecessary travel to other 70-odd coronavirus affected countries. The Ministry of Health has updated travel advisory again.
• The Maharashtra government had announced a 24×7 helpline number for those who want to report any suspected case or symptoms of the infection, or get information. Dial: 020-26127394
• In Mumbai, the BMC also broadcasted the launch of a helpline number to report any coronavirus cases in the city. Dial 1916

Coronavirus: events that have been cancelled

• The President of India has already cancelled the annual Holi celebration at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi too, won’t participate in the Holi Milan celebrations, and has asked citizens also to stay away from mass gatherings in stir of the coronavirus.
• The annual Holi celebrations at Delhi Haat also been cancelled, it is the popular Holi Moo party at Hauz Khas.
• The celebrations at the ‘widow ashram’ in Vrindavan have been cancelled.
• The daily retreat ceremony at the Attari border, Wagah, will continue, however, visitors will not be allowed.
• The week-long World Wilderness Congress event (WILD11) that was scheduled to commence on 19th March in Jaipur has also been cancelled.

Source: Condé Nast Traveller