COVID-19: PM bans travel for union ministers

March 12, 2020 16:37

PM Narendra Modi tweets on the coronavirus pandemic. "The Government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries and states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities.

"Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings."

And here's the Union Ministry of Health's statement on the coronavirus pandemic: "Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) cardholders are kept in abeyance till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure," says Luv Aggarwal, Health Ministry,

"Out of the 73 positive cases reported in India so far, 56 are Indians and 17 are foreigner. So far, the Government of India has evacuated 900 Indian citizens along with 48 belonging to other nations like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru."

"52 testing facilities are located across the country. There are a total of 56 sample collection centers. We already have around 1 lakh testing kits available, additional testing kits have already been ordered and they are also in procurement. Mask is not always necessary, if a person maintains effective social distance, mask is not needed. There is no need to panic."

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