NEW DELHI, MARCH 19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm tonight and is expected to announce several measures and steps to contain the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed four lives across the country so far. While multiple media reports speculated that Modi will announce a virtual lockdown of the country, sources told News18 that the information is incorrect.
Just hours before his address, the government announced it will not allow any international commercial passenger aircraft to land from March 22-29. The central government said the railways and Civil Aviation Ministry must suspend all concessional travel on trains and flights, except for students, patients, and disabled people. “Similarly, all children below 10 should be advised to stay at home and not to venture out,” it added.
The Centre has requested states to enforce work from home for private-sector employees, except for those working in emergency and essential services. “State governments shall issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance) except for public representatives or government servants or medical professionals are advised to remain at home,” the statement noted.
To reduce huge gatherings, all group B and C category of central government employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate weeks, and there will be “staggered timings” for all employees.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday advised senior citizens and children below the age of 10 years to stay indoors because of the spread of coronavirus, even as they assured the general public that there was no community transmission of the disease in the country so far.
The ministry also said the department of pharmaceuticals and the ministry of consumer affairs have been asked to take necessary action against anyone charging exorbitant prices for masks, sanitizers and other health-related logistic materials.
“Senior citizens above 65 except for public representatives/govt servants/medical professionals should be advised to remain at home,” the ministry said.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi said 201 Indians were evacuated from Iran on Wednesday.
“On March 21 Air India would be going to Rome to bring back students or any Indians stranded there. The flight would return on March 22,” said Joint Secretary, Aviation Ministry, Rubina Ali.
The Health Ministry also said there was no community transmission so far in the country and the fourth death reported from Punjab was that of an elderly person who had co-morbid conditions like diabetes, cardiac issues.
The Health Ministry also said that to discourage unnecessary travel and to prevent the vulnerable category of senior citizens from undertaking unnecessary travels, concessional booking of all tickets except for patients, students and the Divyangjan category for unreserved and reserved segment have been suspended form 00:00 hrs of March 20 till further advisory.
India on Thursday announced that it will not allow any international commercial passenger aircraft to land in the country from March 22 to March 29.
