Timeline of India’s response to COVID-19 outbreak

New Delhi: Ministry of information and broadcasting has issued a press release on Saturday describing the timeline of India's response to COVID-19 outbreak. "India's response to COVID-19 has been pre-emptive, pro-active and graded. India had already put in place a comprehensive response system at its borders much before WHO declared it as a public health emergency of international concern" the ministry said in the release. India was the first country to begin screening of incoming air passengers followed by suspension of visas and ban on international flights. Also, the thermal screening of incoming international passengers from China and Hong Kong was started on January 18 which was way before the first case of Coronavirus was detected in India on January 30.

It is pertinent to mention here that Italy and Spain which are worst hit by Coronavirus spread began screening of travellers 25 days and 39 days respectively after the first reported case. A chronology of the decisions taken by the Government of India so far towards response to COVID-19 outbreak goes like this:

January 17- Advisory issued to avoid travel to china

January 18- Thermal screening of passengers from China and Hong Kong

January 30- Strong advisory issued to avoid travel to China.

February 3- E- visa facility suspended for Chinese citizens.

February 22- Advisory issued to avoid travel to Singapore; Universal screening for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

February 26- Advisory issued to avoid travel to Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea. Passengers coming from these countries to be screened, and maybe quarantined based on screening and risk assessment.

March 3- Suspension of all visas for Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China; Compulsory health screening for passengers arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan.

March 4- Universal screening of all International Flights. Quarantine or isolation at home or sent to hospital-based on screening and risk profile

March 5- Passengers from Italy or Republic of Korea need to get a medical certificate before entry

March 10- Home isolation: incoming international passengers should self-monitor health and follow govt. Dos and Don'ts: passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo home quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival

March 11- Compulsory Quarantine- Incoming travellers (including Indians) arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

March 16, 17, 19- Comprehensive advisory issued

March 16- Expanded compulsory quarantine for travellers from or through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait for a minimum of 14 days. Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom to India totally prohibited

March 17- Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia  prohibited

March 19- All Incoming international flights suspended, with effect from March 22.

March 25- The suspension of all incoming International Flights to India extended till April 14.

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