Travel Restrictions, Global Economy & India's Preparedness: Union Minister Hardeep Puri on Coronavirus

Mar 13,2020

Travel Restrictions, Global Economy & India's Preparedness: Union Minister Hardeep Puri on Coronavirus

India has stepped up vigil since the WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic, with screenings at airports, work-from-home advisories and steps to ensure basic hygiene. As the disease rocks global markets leading to instability, CNN-News18 spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to understand the way forward. Edited excerpts:

India has suspended most categories of visas, US President Donald Trump has restricted travel from Europe and China is in lockdown. Are we heading towards a global travel lockdown?

We would like to look at it differently... by the end of December, Covid-19 gained attention… India started taking measures since January 17… WHO swung into action at the end of January. India introduced travel restrictions, passenger screening; India topped universal screening on March 4. What we did yesterday needs to be placed in perspective. The 70,000 [people] visiting India in 30 airports fell down to 60,000. We need to restrict the numbers and hence the visa restrictions came into place… Trump did the same too… WHO called it a global pandemic, decisions were taken because of hard facts emerging.