Govt reviews preparedness at highest level to manage Novel Corona Virus in country

A Group of
Ministers met in New Delhi yesterday to review the preparedness and steps taken
by the Ministries of Health, Shipping, External Affairs, Civil Aviation and
Home Affairs regarding management of Novel Corona virus in the country.

The meeting
was chaired by the Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The group,
which has been constituted on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
comprises of Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep
Puri, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of State for Home G
Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Shipping
Minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya.

A
presentation of the status of the NCOV-2019 was made to the GoM. The members
were also apprised of the three cases reported from Kerala, one of which was
confirmed yesterday.

The
preventive steps and measures taken for management of spread of Novel
Coronavirus in India were presented, which included information about the
revised travel advisories issued on Sunday regarding the temporary suspension
of the e-visa facilities.

The Advisory
has been revised informing the public to refrain from travel to China and that
anyone with travel history to China since the 15th of last month and from now
on could be quarantined.

Further, the
e-Visa facility for Chinese passport holders has been temporarily suspended and
e-Visa already issued to Chinese nationals is also not valid temporarily.

The GoM was
also briefed that screening of passengers is ongoing in 21 airports,
international seaports and border crossings, particularly with Nepal.

Universal
screening in all flights from Singapore and Thailand besides Hong Kong and
China is being done.