New Delhi: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, on Tuesday said that the entry of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia have been barred with immediate effect to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
"Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, and Malaysia to India is prohibited with immediate effect," Aggarwal said at a press conference.
He also said, "The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has strongly appealed that the private laboratories should offer COVID-19 diagnosis at no cost."
Coronavirus cases have crossed 182,000 all over the world with over 7,100 deaths. Of these, China has over 80,800 positive cases while Italy's tally stands over 27, 900.
Total cases in India have risen to 137, as per the Union health ministry. Three persons have lost their lives in India due to the virus.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
