Coronavirus: Avoid travelling to India, UAE embassy issues advisory

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New Delhi - The embassy requested citizens in India to register on the ministry's Twajudi service.

By Wam

Published: Thu 12 Mar 2020, 10:30 AM

Last updated: Fri 13 Mar 2020, 8:28 AM

The UAE has called on its citizens to refrain from travelling to India at present time, following recent concerns on the new coronavirus, Covid-19, outbreaks in a number of countries.

The @UAEembassyIndia calls on #UAE citizens to avoid travel to the Republic of #India at present time, in implementation of the instructions issued by the Indian government@drahmedalbanna @MoFAICUAE @Twajudi
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- UAE Embassy-Newdelhi (@UAEembassyIndia) March 12, 2020

which stated that all foreigners holding #Indian visas of all kinds will be barred from entering India until further notice as a precautionary measure taken by the Indian government to reduce Novel Corona Virus Spread.@drahmedalbanna @MoFAICUAE @Twajudi
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- UAE Embassy-Newdelhi (@UAEembassyIndia) March 12, 2020

The @UAEembassyIndia also calls on #UAE citizens who are in the Republic of India to register for @Twajudi services, and contact with the embassy at +91 81819 11111@drahmedalbanna @MoFAICUAE @Twajudi
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- UAE Embassy-Newdelhi (@UAEembassyIndia) March 12, 2020

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said, "The decision comes in implementation of the instructions issued by the Indian government, which stated that all foreigners holding Indian visas of all kinds will be barred from entering India until further notice as a precautionary measure taken by the Indian government to reduce novel Coronavirus spread."
The UAE Embassy in New Delhi requested UAE citizens currently in India to register on the ministry's 'Twajudi' service, and contact the embassy at +91 81819 11111.
India said on Wednesday it will suspend the vast majority of visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as cases across the region continued to rise.
The move comes as the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic, and as countries worldwide scramble to contain the spread of Covid-19.
India's visa suspension begins on Friday at 12pm at the port of departure, the government's Press Information Bureau said.
Diplomatic visas and visas for international organisations, employment and projects are exempt.
While the majority of Covid-19 cases have been in China - which shares a border with India - the number of new infections has steadied there. Hotspots however have emerged in Italy, Iran and Spain.
All travellers, including Indian nationals, "arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after Feb 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days", the statement read.
The visa decision was reached following a meeting of ministers led by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, the statement read.
The government also "strongly advised" Indians against non-essential foreign travel, warning that they can be subjected "to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days".
Visa-free travel granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders - some three million people, not nationals but from ethnic Indian families living abroad - was put on hold until Apr 15.
And land border traffic will be funnelled through "designated check points with robust screening facilities".
Foreign nationals who plan to travel to India "for compelling reasons" can contact their nearest Indian mission, the statement said.