Centre bans global flights from March 22

In a bid to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus across the country on a large scale, the government on Thursday announced stringent measures that include a travel ban, and enforcing social distancing, as the total number of positive cases touched 173. Of this, 149 are active cases, 19 cured, one migrated to another nation and four deaths. The latest death was reported from Punjab.

The government banned all scheduled international commercial passenger flights from landing in India from Sunday, March 22, for at least one week. The MEA said these are temporary measures and asked people to stay put wherever they are.

The railways and airlines have been asked to suspend all travel concessions, except for students, patients and those who are handicapped. States have also been asked to enforce “work from home” for private sector employees. However, those working in the emergency and essential services will be exempt from this. To reduce crowding in offices, all Group B and C Central employees have been asked to go to office only on alternate weeks, and there will be staggered timings for the employees.

State governments have

been asked to issue directions telling people over the age of 65 and children under 10 to strictly stay at home.

However, this will not be applicable for public representatives, government employees and medical

professionals, among others. The tailways cancelled

155 trains between March

20 and March 31 due to

Covid-19 while several international flights have been hit.