Coronavirus: Stay where you are, travel only if you must, advises Indian ministry

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coronavirus, covid-19, ministry of external affairs
A media briefing in New Delhi.

Dubai - There is no need to panic and the situation is under control.

By Staff Report

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Published: Thu 12 Mar 2020, 6:37 PM

Last updated: Thu 12 Mar 2020, 8:43 PM

India's external affairs ministry on Thursday said the government's immediate concern is to contain and control the Covid-19 coronavirus. The ministry has advised Indians to stay put wherever they are and travel only under compelling reasons. Briefing the media in New Delhi this afternoon, Additional Secretary in the Ministry Dammu Ravi said there is no need to panic and the situation is under control.

Responding to questions about IPL and other sporting events, Ravi said it is advisable to not hold any such event at this time, but it is the decision of the organisers. He added that the government has also not issued any guidelines to airlines to stop or reduce flights.

Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said the government has received requests from four countries for assistance in arranging protective gear and the government is processing it. These countries are Bhutan, Iran and the Maldives. Earlier, such a request was received from China and a package was sent.

Additional Secretary of Home Ministry Anil Malik informed that there has been a decline of 40 per cent in the number of people travelling to India in the last 20 days. He said that the number will come down further.


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