According to Worldometer, as of today, 638 people have died; 31, 481 people are infected and out of this, 4,824 people are in critical condition due to coronavirus in China. The novel coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV has affected 28 countries and territories around the world. And yet, there has been no fixed cause or solution identified for this deadly virus. Travel restrictions on China have been imposed by countries across the world in the light of this coronavirus outbreak. India has temporarily suspended e-visa facilities for Chinese travellers and foreigners residing in the country. While other nations have cancelled their flights flying to and from China to prevent further spread of this disease.
What’s In It?
The Indian Embassy announced, that due to certain current developments, travel to India on e-visas stands temporarily suspended with immediate effect. It further stated that this applies to holders of Chinese passports and people of other nationalities residing in the People’s Republic of China. It was also revealed that holders of already issued e-visas were no longer valid. But those who have a compelling reason to visit India can contact the Indian Embassy in Beijing, or Indian consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou and the Indian Visa Application Centres in these cities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced e-visa facilities for Chinese national during his visit to China in 2015. This was a measure taken to build confidences and ease visa restrictions in the country, attracting more Chinese tourists. Now with the spread of coronavirus, India evacuated 647 Indians and seven citizens from Maldivesby special flights from the coronavirus hit Wuhan city. Flights like IndiGo and Air India have cancelled flights flying from some Indian cities to China too.
Also Read: India Officially Registers Its First Case Of Coronavirus In Kerala
What’s More?
Apart from India, many more countries have imposed travel restrictions on China. Around 10,000 flights have been cancelled between the outbreak of the virus and 31st January. This is in spite of the World Health Organization stating that such limits on travel and trade needn’t be imposed to control the spread of the virus. The US has put out a 14-day travel ban on all visitors from China irrespective of their nationality. The State Department has issued its highest level do-not-travel advisory for China. Flights like American Airlines Group Inc and Delta Air Lines have suspended flights to China all the way till April. US citizens arriving from China will have to undergo 14-days mandatory quarantine on arrival.
Vietnam has stopped tourist visas to China and Singapore has halted issuing all types of visas to Chinese travellers. Visa-free tourism and work visas to Chinese nationals from Russia have also been put on hold. Similar visa restrictions have been imposed by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mozambique and the Philippines. Hong Kong has barred residents of Hubei province in China and their Cathay Pacific airlines has cut down its flights to China by 50%. Countries like Germany, Finland, Egypt, Italy, Israel, Japan and Kenya to name a few, have all temporarily suspended their flights flying to China to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
India has already registered 3 cases of coronavirus in Kerala. And it’s advisable that you take the necessary precautions and take care of your health. Here’s What You Need To Know About The Coronavirus Breakout In China