India asked people to avoid non- essential travel to Singapore- Travel advisory

India asked people to avoid non- essential travel to Singapore- Travel advisory
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India asked people on Saturday to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore in a fresh advisory amid concerns about the novel coronavirus that has spread from China to 26 countries, ferried by travellers.

India asked people on Saturday to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore in a fresh advisory amid concerns about the novel coronavirus that has spread from China to 26 countries, ferried by travellers.

The Union Ministry of Health has confirmed that people are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore and has also declared that all passengers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam will be screened uniformly.

The Indian government had advised people to refrain from visiting China earlier this month, and the authorities have already screened more than 397,000 air passengers and more than 9,600 sea travellers for people with virus symptoms.

Over 75,000 confirmed cases have been caused by the outbreak, with over 2,200 deaths in China and over 1,200 cases in 26 countries, the WHO said. In Kerala, India has only detected the infection in three people who had returned from China. The three patients have all been recovered and discharged.

The WHO report reported 85 cases in Singapore, 22 cases in Malaysia, 16 cases in Vietnam, 1 cases in Nepal, 35 cases in Thailand, but none in Indonesia; Indian health officials weren't available immediately to discuss why the government has decided to screen Indonesian passengers.

Since the outbreak began in late January, virologists have highlighted the problems that India will face if people infected with coronavirus somehow remain undetected or unrecognized and mingle with others when they can spread the virus. "That is why the screening and quarantine at airports are so important for India," said a senior virologist.

Through its district-level disease surveillance units, the health ministry has monitored several thousand people across the country who have returned from China and have asked to remain under house quarantine and report to health authorities if symptoms grow within four weeks of their return. The health ministry said about 21,800 people are under such "group surveillance."

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