- Wednesday, April 16, 2025
By: indiaweekly.biz Staff
India has announced a ban on all inbound international commercial flights for one a week starting from Sunday (22) as part of its efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
“No scheduled international commercial passenger flights shall be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week,” said a government a statement.
The total number of positive cases of COVID19 in India was 173, with four deaths (one each) in Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra.
Government sources also confirmed that an Air India 787-Dreamliner will fly to Rome on Saturday to evacuate Indian students and others stranded there.
The Centre also requested states to implement work-from-home option for private sector employees, except for those working in emergency and essential services.
State governments had earlier been to told to “issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance), except for public representatives or government servants or medical professionals are advised to remain at home”.
To reduce huge gatherings, “all group B and C category of central government employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate weeks, and there will be staggered timings for all employees”.
In a rare address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all Indians to stay home on Sunday between 7 am and 9pm to fight the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. “Janata curfew (people’s curfew) – Janata curfew for the people, janata curfew by the people, self imposed janata curfew on March 22 between 7am and 9pm. All citizens should follow janta curfew. No citizen should step out or congregate,” he said.
He also urged citizens to cheer and clap from their balconies and verandahs for the tireless doctors, nurses and other health professionals who have on the front line of the battle against coronavirus.
Modi cautioned that India could not be immune to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. He said social distancing was very important in such times. He said taking “sankalp” and “sanyam” (pledge and patience) were two important features to conquer the virus.
“Complacency will be our undoing,” he said, ahead of appealing to the nation to strictly adhere to “social distancing.”
To curb the spread of coronavirus, “130 crore Indians have to become determined”.
“They have say they fulfil our duty fully, obey the directions of the state and central government. They have to say we will take steps to prevent getting infected and will protect others from getting infected.”
