Coronavirus impact: MEA appoints additional secretary level rank official as nodal officer

After World Health Organisation (WHO) declared vel Coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' on Wednesday,  Ministry of External Affairs appointed an additional secretary level rank official as dal officer to coordinate efforts at global level regarding spread of COVID-19. India has reported at least 67 confirmed cases while worldwide, toll has crossed 1.2 lakh. disease has killed nearly 4,000 people across world.

READ | Coronavirus: Govt Issues New Travel Restrictions; Suspends Visas For All Foreign Nationals

Centre issues new travel restrictions

In a move to contain rapid spread of coronavirus cases in country, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on Wednesday issued an advisory that all existing visas, barring diplomatic, UN/International Organisations, employment and project visas, will stand suspended till April 15, 2020. This move will come into effect from Friday at port of departure. This advisory also applies for people with visa-free travel, and to OCI cardholders, whose visa-free access will be temporarily suspended with effect from March 13, 2020.

statement also specified that all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from Coronavirus-affected countries, namely, China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain, and Germany after February 15, 2020, will have to undergo a minimum 14-day period of mandatory quarantine. 

READ | Coronavirus Outbreak: Nagpur Confirms First Case, Maharashtra Toll At 11

WHO declares coronavirus outbreak pandemic

WHO declared coronavirus outbreak a pandemic as pathogen rapidly spread to more than 121,000 people from Asia, Middle East, Europe and rth America. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adham Ghebreyesus warned of a furr rise in number of cases, number of deaths and  number of affected countries. last a pandemic was declared was in 2009, during H1N1 swine flu outbreak.

READ | WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak As A 'Pandemic', Implores Nations To Take Action

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(PTI photo)