Coronavirus: Government Issues Travel Advisory As Two Fresh Cases Reported In India

The Government of India has issued a fresh travel advisory asking Indians to avoid non-essential travel to China, Iran, Korea, Singapore, and Italy as two new cases of coronavirus were reported in Delhi and Telangana. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that travel restrictions may be further extended to other countries also. “Under the travel advisory, existing visas including e-visas will remain suspended for China and Iran.  As the situation develops, the travel restrictions may be further extended to other countries also,” Vardhan said.

Vardhan said we are already prepared in advance and are closely monitoring other countries. “We are also discussing if we have to revise any of our decisions, amplify it or focus in any particular direction,” he added.

"Screening of passengers being conducted at 21 airports, 12 major seaports, and 65 minor seaports. 5, 57,431 passengers have been screened so far at airports and 12,431 passengers have been screened on minor and major seaports," he said.

The Ministry of Health on Monday reported one positive case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in Delhi and Telangana. The person who has tested positive in Delhi has travel history from Italy, while the other person has travel history from Dubai. The new cases have taken a total number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in India to five.

Earlier, three students from Kerala had tested positive for the virus. Three days ago, Kerala's health minister, KK Shailaja had said that the three students who were found positive with coronavirus have been cured.

"We succeeded in the first part, that of containing coronavirus. 3 students who were found to be corona-positive were isolated, now they are stable. They were cured," Shailaja had said.

Both the new COVID-19 patients are stable and being closely monitored, the ministry said in a statement.