Travel guidelines and Restrictions amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
If you are one of those for whom traveling is essential even during the Coronavirus outbreak, here are a few tips and tricks about how you can keep the disease away from you.
The dangerous Coronavirus outbreak that has asserted in excess of 3000 lives so far has named a pandemic. While at first, the infection was restricted to the territory of China but has now spread to nations over the world, including Japan, Iran, South Korea, Kuwait, India, the Middle East, and Italy. WHO has now denoted the effect of this worldwide wellbeing crisis from "high" to "incredibly high", with governments forcing severe bans, limitations and streamlining isolate and screening procedures to restrict the hazard.
Coronavirus symptoms begin with something as straightforward as cold and can conceivably show into something extreme like respiratory diseases, pneumonia, and kidney contaminations. Here are a couple of preventive measures to protect yourself while voyaging.
1. Avoid if possible:
Abstaining from making a trip to contamination loaded regions is your most solid option to ensure against Coronavirus on the off chance that you can't confine, change or abstain from voyaging out.
2. Wash hands:
An essential cleanliness propensity, washing your hands thoroughly can check the danger of disease spread. At the point when you travel, you interact with a great deal of spots and things that can be a rearing house for germs. While many utilize a sanitizer, recall that, they can just go about as a reinforcement and not supplant the viability of handwashing. It is suggested that you wash your hands under tepid (or boiling) water for at least 20-30 seconds to eliminate germs.
3. Use bottled water:
At the point when you are making a trip to obscure spots, you can't be completely certain about the quality or virtue of nourishment and water. It may likewise happen that your gut microscopic organisms probably won't respond well to the neighborhood produce. Consequently, you ought to be especially mindful of nourishment tainting of any sort.
4. Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes:
While masks won't really shield you from contamination hazard inside and out, what one shouldn't do is much of the time contact the eyes, mouth and nose, particularly with unwashed hands.
5. Spread awareness:
As significant for what it's worth to restrain your contact with the individuals who are debilitated, it is additionally urgent you keep up good ways from others in the event that you are wiped out or think you are creating manifestations of any infection when you are voyaging, onboard a flight, train or journey or in a space where there's a substantial group. Alert a specialist or a clinical expert and get the important treatment. On the off chance that you are returning, practice self-segregation and educate your primary care physician on the double.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN THE TIMES OF CORONAVIRUS
Tourism is one of the industries that has been massively affected by the outbreak of coronavirus. Period between February to April is the best time of the year when tourism flourishes all over the world, however, the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic has hit it badly. People have cancelled their bookings and tours have also come to a close which has resulted in the downfall of the industry. Many countries and regions have also imposed quarantine and entry bans for citizens or visitors from the most-affected areas of the pandemic.
Even India has imposed travel restrictions on visitors and the visas have been canceled. The restrictions will definitely contribute to a negative economic impact on the travel sector for the involved countries, for a long term. Not just the government is imposing restrictions, people themselves have realized that it is better not to travel during this time. However, if you are one of those who still have to cross border for an emergency, here are the travel restrictions you should know about-
- Effective March 13, 2020, all tourist visas and OCI entries were suspended until at least April 15, while holders of these visas who were already in the country can stay.
- Tightened/closed their border with neighboring countries.
- India also mandated 14-day quarantine for citizens returning from seven countries: China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Spain.
Ministry of Health, Consolidated Travel Advisory below:
1. 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.
2. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.
3. OCI card holders already in India can stay in India as long as they want.
4. Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid and they may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion etc. of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they choose to do so.
5. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission.
6. In addition to Visa restrictions already in place, passengers traveling from /having visited Italy or Republic of Korea and desirous of entering India will need certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 from the designated laboratories authorized by the health authorities of these countries. This is in enforcement since 0000 hrs. of 10th March, 2020 and is a temporary measure till cases of COVID-19 subside.
7. All incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15th February, 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.
8. Incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.
9. Indian nationals are further strongly advised to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany.
10. All incoming international passengers returning to India should self- monitor their health and follow required do’s and dont’s as detailed by the Government.
11. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by M/o Home Affairs.
12. All international Passengers entering into India are required to furnish duly filled self-declaration form in duplicate (including personal particulars i.e. phone no. and address in India) ( as annexed) to Health Officials and Immigration officials and undergo Universal Health Screening at the designated health counters at all Points of Entry.
13. For any queries related to health, people may contact Ministry of Health & Family Welfare 24*7 helpline number (+91-11-23978046) or email at (ncov2019@gmail.com).
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