India said yesterday it will suspend all tourist visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as cases across the region continued to rise.
The virus has hit Europe and the United States far harder than China’s most immediate neighbours in South Asia, where no one has yet died.
But as the number of cases in the region topped 80, experts fear that its overstretched medical systems may not be able to handle the type of intensive care required.
“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020,” India’s Health Ministry said in a statement.
The order will come into effect tomorrow.
It was not clear if the ban would include short-term business visas, though the advisory said anyone with a “compelling reason” to travel to the country could contact their nearest Indian mission.
It also urged Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad, in one of the most far-reaching advisories since the outbreak began in late December.
Spokespeople for Health and Foreign Ministries did not respond to requests for comment.
On Tuesday India suspended issuing visas to citizens of France, Spain and Germany until further notice.
Such restrictions were already in place for citizens of China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea - the five countries worst hit by the outbreak of the virus.
India has also closed a border with neighbouring Myanmar to counter the coronavirus outbreak, as countries across South Asia reported a rise in cases yesterday.
No cases have so far been confirmed in Myanmar.
“As a precautionary measure (to prevent) transmission of coronavirus/Covid-19, the international border with Myanmar has been closed until further orders,” N
Biren Singh, chief minister of the northeastern state of Manipur, which shares a border with Myanmar, said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Total cases in the country rose to 68 yesterday, according to data from the federal heath ministry and the chief minister of Maharashtra state.
Kerala, which reported three new cases over the weekend, said on Tuesday it was shutting schools and movie theatres to avoid a further outbreak.
A corona-positive aged couple were moved to the critical care unit of the Kottayam Medical College Hospital in the state yesterday.
According to the state health authorities in the state, 259 people are under isolation in various hospitals, while 1,236 are quarantined in their homes.