New Delhi: In order to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus disease in India, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday decided to expand the universal screening for all the passengers arriving in flights directly from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore, besides flights from China and Hong Kong.
In a circular sent to all airlines and airports, DGCA stated, "Universal screening of all the passengers coming in flights directly from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore besides the flights from China and Hong Kong shall be ensured immediately once they step out of the specific identified aerobridge."
DGCA further added, "It is advised to place the suitable signages at strategic locations at all the airports and getting the self declaration form filled by the passengers as per the instructions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare."
Earlier, only passengers arriving from Thailand Singapore China and Hong Kong were being screened for coronavirus at 21 airports across the country.
Meanwhile, SpiceJet has announced that it will discontinue its daily Delhi-Hong Kong flight from February 16 to 29, 2020. Air India and IndiGo had already suspended their flights to Hong Kong earlier this month.
Till date, only passengers arriving from four countries -- China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore -- were being screened for possible exposure to the respiratory virus at 21 identified airports in India.
The Indian Embassy in Japan said on Friday that a third Indian crew on board a cruise ship off the Japanese coast has tested positive for the novel coronavirus as authorities confirmed that total 218 people have been infected with the deadly virus on the quarantined ship.
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