PANJIM: As coronavirus spreads its wings in India with several suspected and confirmed cases coming to the fore, the State health authorities have decided to screen the passengers coming from 12 different countries to the coastal State. The State had five suspected cases, all which were declared negative.
The passengers coming from countries such as China, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Nepal, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand will be screened at Dabolim International Airport. The move is as per the directions of Union Ministry for Civil Aviation and Ministry of Health.
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Speaking to Herald, State Epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar said that the passengers, travelling from these countries, are been screened for suspected virus at the airport.
“For now, the State has not a single case of serious suspect. Only seven people are currently home quarantined,” he said.
Dr Betodkar said that Goa had reported five serious suspected cases of coronavirus, however, all tested negative. “Apart from this, there were total 53 people home quarantined since December, last month. This also included some locals, who had travelled,” he said.
The State government had last month declared all the visas, including eVisas already issued for foreign nationals travelling from China as invalid.
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Tuesday, issued a travel advisory in view of the spurt of cases being reported from China and other countries, wherein it has advised travellers/Indian citizens to refrain from travel to China and that those travelling to China henceforth will be quarantined on return.
Indian citizens are further advised to refrain from non-essential travel to Singapore, Republic of Korea, Islamic Republic of Iran and Italy. People coming from Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy or those having history of travel to these countries may be quarantined for 14 days on arrival to India.
Ministry has asked those having compelling reasons to travel to these countries to follow simple public health measures at all times. Observe good personal hygiene, practice frequent hand washing with soap, follow respiratory etiquettes — cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing — avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness, such as cough, runny nose etc, avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw/undercooked meats, avoid travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered and wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose.
Centre
suspends visas/e-visa
PANJIM:
Already suffering a fall in arrivals owing to various factors, the coastal
State of Goa is likely to be hit by the ripple effect of the coronavirus
crisis. With
the project inviting Chinese delegation for promoting Goa in the now-COVID-19
affected country has been shelved, State hopes that visitors preferring
South-Eastern countries could now divert to India for vacation, subject to the
developments on the epidemic. Fortunately,
State does not get holidayers from the countries such as Italy, South Korea,
Japan and Iran besides China making it safer than other countries.“We
don’t get much visitors from South Eastern countries. However, we do get small
numbers from Spain, Italy, among a few others. Just like many other countries,
we might face an impact in the tourism sector as air travel is taking a hit due
to the infectious virus. Nevertheless, the visitors who cannot travel to
COVID-19 affected countries can prefer Goa subject to their health condition,”
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Savio Messias said. Fortunately,
India has not witnessed an epidemic even as three fresh cases were reported
from Northern part, on Tuesday.
On
Tuesday, the Government of India suspended visas/e-visa granted to Italy, South
Korea, Iran and Japan nationals, who haven’t yet entered India, on or before
March 3. To those from these countries, wishing to travel to India on emergency
ground, should apply before the authorities afresh.
