By: RadhakrishnaNS
THE total number of positive COVID-19 cases in India jumped to 114 as on Monday (16), a health ministry official said.
As part of stepping up the vigil, India prohibited travel of passengers from member countries of the EuropeanUnion, Turkey and UK to India with effect from March 18, 2020.
“No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from March 18, 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure,” the health ministry said.
Besides, the country expanded compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait from March 18, 2020.
India takes steps to close all educational establishments, gyms, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools and theatres.
“Students should be advised to stay at home. Online education to be promoted,” the health ministry said.
“Non-essential travel should be avoided. Buses, Trains and aeroplanes to maximise social distancing in public transport besides ensuring regular and proper disinfection of surfaces,” the ministry said.
As part of the preventive measure, restaurants were asked to ensure handwashing protocol and proper cleanliness of frequently touched surfaces.
Ensure physical distancing (minimum 1metre) between tables; encourage open-air seating where practical with adequate distancing.
The country has asked private sector employers to allow employees to work from home wherever feasible.
“Meetings, as far as feasible, shall be done through video conferences. Minimise or reschedule meetings involving a large number of people unless necessary,” the health ministry said.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Monday called on governments to take coordinated fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to stop the coronavirus from causing long-term economic damage.
In a blog message posted on the IMF website, Georgieva said the global lender has received interest from about 20 additional countries for financing programs and will follow up with them in the coming days. She did not identify any of them.
The IMF stands ready to mobilize its $1 trillion in lending capacity to aid its 189 member countries, she said.
“As the virus spreads, the case for a coordinated and synchronized global fiscal stimulus is becoming stronger by the hour,” Georgieva said.
The IMF chief suggested that coordinated fiscal action on the scale of the 2008-2009 financial crisis may be necessary. She said that in 2009 alone, Group of 20 countries deployed about two per cent of their GDP in stimulus, or about $900 billion in today’s money, “so there is a lot more work to do.”
