Expanding social distancing measures and toughening travel restrictions to prevent community transmission of COVID 19, India on Thursday said no scheduled commercial aircraft will be allowed to land here starting March 21 midnight for a week.
The Group of Ministers reviewing measures needed to contain the virus sat for the eighth time today and decided to direct states to ensure elders above 65 years and children below 10 years stay home except in medical or emergency situations.
GOM also asked state governments to enforce work from home by private employers expect where employees are engaged in emergency services.
The GOM directed railways and civil aviation department to reduce frequency of metros and also suspend concessional travel expect for students, patients and specially-abled people.
Further, the Centre has advised states to reduce frequency of public transport commutes RK reduce social gatherings and crowding.
Meanwhile, India today admitted to the first death of its national due to COVID abroad — an elderly person in Iran.
Air India will also mount Dreamliner 787 of 236 capacity to Rome to bring stranded Indians back home. The plane will leave on March 21 and return on March 22.