The Indian Government, on the 11th of March, announced to close its borders, and suspend all the current visas in the wake of Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Visas of diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas.
The visas of OCI travellers and others have been suspended till the 15th of April, which indicates no foreigners could enter India in the upcoming days.
The Union Health Ministry released a statement regarding the same on the 11th of March. According to the statement, “All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till April 15th 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission.”
The Indian Government is trying to fight the deadly virus and is set to invoke provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 against Novel Coronavirus.
Rajib Gauba, the cabinet secretary, conducted a meeting and proposed to ensure “advisories” issued by the Union Health Ministry and also asked the State Government to impose Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act. According to the Act, “When at any time the [State Government] is satisfied that [the State] or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the [State Government], if [it] thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by, the public or by any person or class of persons as [it] shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.”
As of now, India has 60 positive cases of Novel Coronavirus, which was first reported in China. The deadly family of virus with symptoms like breathing issues, fever, cough and cold, killed more than 3,000 people and infected more than 1 lakh people across the World.
