Coronavirus | No International Flights Allowed To Land In India From March 22 For A Week

Amid the continuous rise in the number of positive coronavirus cases in the country, the Government Of India on Thursday said that no international commercial flights will be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week. “No scheduled international commercial passenger flights shall be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week,” the government said. It also requested the state governments to issue appropriate directions to all citizens above 65 years of age to remain at home.

Modi government has also requested the state governments to enforce work from home for private-sector employees except those working in emergency/essential services. Earlier, the government had asked its employees to work from home till April 4. According to an order issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions today, heads of department (HoDs) have been asked to ensure that 50% of Group B and C employees are required to attend office every day, and the remaining 50% staff should be instructed to work from home. All HoDs have been advised to draft a weekly roster of duty for Group B and C staff and ask them to attend office on alternate weeks.

The development comes as COVID-19 cases in India climbed to 169 on Thursday after fresh cases were reported, including from Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh, while most of the states and UT's imposed restrictions, inching towards partial shutdown in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed four lives in the country.

There were 18 fresh cases in the last 24 hours with Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh reporting their first COVID-19 patients on early Thursday. One more person infected with coronavirus died in Punjab, which decided to impose fresh restrictions.

As the virus continued to spread its tentacles across India, several parts, including Kashmir valley headed towards a virtual lockdown with the administration restricting the movement of people in several parts and banning all public transport in Srinagar city.

With Agency Inputs