India suspends existing visas; 1471 screened in Nagaland

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 12 (EMN): Following the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaration of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak as pandemic, India has suspended “all existing visas” until April 15 and said that all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals arriving from affected countries, would be quarantine for 14 days.

Against earlier travel advisories issued on Covid-19, the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued a fresh visa restriction on March 11. This came after a high level Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan held its second meeting of the GoM at Nirman Bhawan, according to the Press Information Bureau. 

All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals—arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain, and Germany after February 15, 2020—shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days, it stated.

The suspension of visas as well as quarantine period for all such travellers will come into effect from 1200 GMT from today (March 13) at the port of departure till April 15.

Further, visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders is to be kept in abeyance till April 15. This will come into effect on March 13 from 1200 GMT at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India, it added.

However, visas in regard to diplomatic, official, UN/International Organisations, employment, and project are exempted from suspension, as per the advisory.

It also added that International traffic through land borders would be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities, which will be notified separately by Ministry of Home Affairs.

Visas valid for foreigners in India

The advisory stated that visas for all foreigners already in India remain valid. They may contact the nearest Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRRO/FRO) through e-FRRO for extension/conversion etc., of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they chose to do so.

Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission, it informed.

In addition to the visa restriction, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also strongly advised incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, to avoid all ‘non-essential travel’. It informed that they could be quarantined for 14 days, upon their arrival in India.

When contacted, Home Commissioner of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha told Eastern Mirror that the department will “not issue” any fresh restriction concerning the state of Nagaland.

In addition to screening being set up the entry points and border areas, issuing of entry permits to travellers has been restricted, he said, while commenting on the effectiveness of sealing of border areas by the department.

Meanwhile, the Konyak Union has on March 7 announced a ban on the inflow of foreign and national tourist to the district, particularly during Aoleng festival, which is celebrated in the first week of April.

1471 screened

Giving an update on status of Covid-19 in Nagaland, State Nodal Officer for Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme, Dr. Nyanthung Kikon informed that 1471 persons were screened as of 4 pm, March 12.

He assured most of them were ‘fine and there is no confirmed case in Nagaland’. Meanwhile, the total number of persons under home-quarantine has come down to two as on March 12.