The Indian Government has tightened its visa rules as they become one of the 25 countries that have been affected by the novel coronavirus with three reported cases.
It has canceled the existing visas for Chinese and foreigners who had visited China for the past two weeks.
The Indian embassy in China issued a statement that said: “It is clarified that existing visas are no longer valid. Intending visitors to India should contact the Indian Embassy in Beijing (visa.beijing@mea.gov.in) or the Consulates in Shanghai (Ccons.shanghai@mea.gov.in) and Guangzhou (Visa.guangzhou@mea.gov.in) to apply afresh for an Indian visa. Indian Visa Application Centres (www.blsindia-china.com) in these cities may also be contacted in this regard.”
Meanwhile, individuals with regular or e-visa who are now in India and have been to China after January 15 are urged to immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Government of India.
India’s Union health secretary Preeti Sudan also announced that passengers coming from destinations that are high-risk of nCov will be required to pass through screening at aerobridges in some selected gates at international airports in Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Hindustan Times reported that a total of 89,500 passengers from 777 flights in 21 airports have been screened for symptoms since January 17 to guarantee effective prevention.
Similar control measures are also implemented in international borders and seaports of India.
Over the weekend, India has successfully evacuated hundreds of citizens including seven Maldivians from Chinese City Wuhan which is the epicenter of the virus that has now killed at least 490 people.
