India’s aviation regulator has told the nation’s airports to screen passengers arriving from four more countries, namely Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Already, passengers travelling in flights from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore are being screened at Indian airports in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Cases of the virus infection have been reported in many countries, including India.
In a communication issued on Sunday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it has been decided to expand universal screening of all passengers arriving in flights from Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
The screening must be ensured immediately "once they step out of the specific locations at all the airports and getting the self-declaration form filled by the passengers as per the instructions of the health and family welfare ministry”.
In this regard, DGCA said all airlines should make in-flight announcement in flights coming from these countries.
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On Saturday, Mumbai International Airport Ltd. said it has started screening passengers arriving from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal for coronavirus in compliance with the central government's directives, in addition to the fliers from the previous six countries.
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The death toll due to the coronavirus outbreak rose to 2,345 with 109 more fatalities reported. The number of confirmed cases of infection increased to 76,288, according to Chinese health officials.