No international passenger flights will be allowed to land in India for a week as the government of the world’s second-most populous nation seeks to check rising coronavirus infections.
India’s government said Thursday that the measure would come into effect on March 22. It is the most dramatic step India has taken so far to insulate itself from the pandemic.
Previously, India canceled nearly all short-term visas for foreigners and barred flights from more than 30 countries. Thursday’s measure will make it highly difficult for anyone to enter the country, including Indian citizens. India has already severely restricted entry via land borders with its neighbors.
At the same time, India — home to more than 1.3 billion people — urged everyone older than 65 and all children younger than 10 to remain at home. Nearly all schools across the country are closed.
India has reported 174 coronavirus cases, more than double the figure from a week ago, and four deaths.
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