COVID-19 INFORMATION 

Government of India COVID-19 initiatives 

Travel Advisories

SECTION ONE: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA COVID-19 INITIATIVES

Embassy of India

Santiago

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26 April, 2020

Information required by Government of India

We draw your attention to the following news item: -

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-govt-prepares-detailed-plan-to-bring-back-indians-stranded-abroad-1671218-2020-04-26

With reference to this and in continuation of our earlier questionnaire of 6 April, 2020 please also answer the following questions by email to sosecy.santiago@mea.gov.in:-

1. Which state in India are you from?
2. When you return to India now, what would be your final destination?
3. Which international airport in India would be closest to your final destination.

We are requesting this information in anticipation of the final decision of the Government of India, but please note that we make no guarantees, as we do not yet know the details of the Government's plans.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

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24 April, 2020

TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR STRANDED INDIANS

THIS IS TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT WITH THE INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE AND EFFORTS OF IAS (INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF SANTIAGO), AND THE AMAZING GENEROSITY OF THE INDIAN COMMUNITY HERE, A TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR STRANDED INDIAN CITIZENS (NRIS) HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE OLD EMBASSY BUILDING AT TRIANA 871, PROVIDENCIA FOR THE DURATION OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS. BASIC AMENITIES FOR SLEEPING, BATHING AND COOKING HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS SOME GROCERIES. ANY NRI WISHING TO AVAIL THIS FACILITY MAY PLEASE CONTACT THE PRESIDENT OF IAS, MR. KISHAN DADLANI, AT +56 9 9980 6249.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

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9 April, 2020

For PowerPoint presentation on Government of India’s COVID-19 initiatives, please go to https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInChile/posts/2845967985468375

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Embassy of India

Santiago

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2 April, 2020

ANOTHER COVID-19 INITIATIVE BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

1. Aarogya Setu is a mobile application developed by the Government of India to connect essential health services with the people of India in our combined fight against COVID-19. The App is aimed at augmenting the initiatives of the Government of India, particularly the Department of Health, in proactively reaching out to and informing the users of the app regarding risks, best practices and relevant advisories pertaining to the containment of COVID-19.

2. This app is not available in Chile but we are circulating this information as you may wish to inform your family and friends back home in India about this initiative, in case they have not heard about it.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

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April 1, 2020

AYURVEDA TIPS FOR BOOSTING IMMUNITY

The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) has consulted leading Ayurveda experts and complied the following list of measures for boosting immunity. It is emphasized that none of these tips are cures for COVID-19 and that they can be used not only during this crisis but also throughout your regular, daily life.

I  General Measures

1. Drink warm water throughout the day.
2. Daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama and meditation for at least 30 minutes as advised by Ministry of AYUSH (#YOGAatHome #StayHome #StaySafe).
3. Spices like Haldi (Turmeric), Jeera (Cumin), Dhaniya (Coriander) and Lahsun (Garlic) are recommended in cooking.
4. Nasal application - Apply sesame oil / coconut oil or Ghee in both the nostrils (Pratimarsh Nasya) in morning and evening.
5. Oil pulling therapy- Take 1 table spoon sesame or coconut oil in mouth. Do not drink, Swish in the mouth for 2 to 3 minutes and spit it off followed by warm water rinse. This can be done once or twice a day.

II  Ayurvedic Immunity Promoting Measures

1. Take Chyavanprash 10gm (1tsf) in the morning. Diabetics should take sugar free Chyavanprash.
2. Drink herbal tea / decoction (Kadha) made from Tulsi (Basil), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Kalimirch (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry Ginger Powder) and Munakka (Raisin) - once or twice a day. Add jaggery (natural sweetener made from sugarcane) and / or fresh lemon juice to your taste, if needed.
3. Golden Milk- Half tea spoon Haldi (turmeric) powder in 150 ml hot milk - once or twice a day.

III Treating dry cough / sore throat

1. Steam inhalation with fresh Pudina (Mint) leaves or Ajwain (Caraway seeds) can be practiced once in a day.
2. Lavang (Clove) powder mixed with natural sugar / honey can be taken 2-3 times a day in case of cough or throat irritation. These measures generally treat normal dry cough and sore throat. However, it is best to consult doctors if these symptoms persist.

Embassy of India

Santiago

24 March 2020

Update - India's response  to COVID-19

• India has declared a country-wide lockdown for a period of 21 days with effect from 25 March 2020. Essential services (groceries, medical facilities, police etc.) will stay operational. All transport services - air, rail, road - have also been suspended except for transport of essential commodities and emergency services. Click here for full text of Government of India’s Guidelines on COVID-19.

Embassy of India

Santiago

15 March 2020

Update - India's response  to COVID-19

• Among earliest responding nations. Set up Joint Monitoring Mechanism on 8 Jan 2020, one day after China identified a new type of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on January 7.
  • Our Approach: quickly heightened surveillance, increased monitoring measures in a graduated and transparent manner, while ensuring high degree of public awareness.
  • First health advisory issued by India on January 17, to initiate preparedness for COVID-19 and start surveillance of Severe Acute Resipratory Illnesses. This was 13 days before WHO declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
  • Graded response set up from January 17, including thermal screening at key gateway airports. This was graduated to 21 airports as the disease spread to SE Asia. After it spread to Europe, increased to 30 airports with universal screening, as well as land border crossing points that are still open.
  • Simultaneously increased restrictions on travel, but in a step-by-step manner, so as not to create panic.
  • Increased public awareness campaigns on TV, print and social media, and specially designed ‘info-tainment’ material.
  • In parallel, ramped up systemic capacity by expanding training for medical staff in all States and Union Territories.
  • Increased diagnostic capabilities: increased from only one major molecular diagnostic facility for pan-India testing, to over 60 labs currently, within less than two months.
  • Developed protocols for each stage of managing this pandemic, including screening at entry points; contact tracing of suspected cases; quarantine and management of isolation facilities; and for discharge of cleared cases.
  • Responded to the call of our people abroad, by evacuating over 1450 Indians from major outbreak areas, as well as citizens from several of our neighbours. This included extremely challenging circumstances, in places under complete lockdown.
  • We have now built up a protocol for this too, including carrying out testing by our mobile teams deployed abroad.

Embassy of India

Santiago

15 March 2020

PM Modi's COVID-19 SAARC Initiative

At the initiative of Prime Minister Modi, a conference with all SAARC countries present was held in India, where the SAARC disasters management centre has its headquarters, to promote regional cooperation to tackle COVID-19 pandemic. India offered assistance as follows:

• Creation of a COVID-19 Emergency Fund based on voluntary contributions. India pledged US$10 million as a start. Aim to help any of our nations meet the cost of emergent actions to combat this pandemic. Foreign Secretaries to finalize concept and operational rules.
• Indian Rapid Response Teams, of doctors, specialists and testing equipment, who are already on standby.
• Online training capsules for emergency response staff, for all SAARC countries, using the model India used to raise capacity of emergency staff across India.
• A review video conference of doctors and medical professionals, in one week to ten days, to consider specific measures and best practices in SAARC states.
• A review video conference of trade officials to consider the impact of travel restrictions on intra-regional trade within SAARC recognizing the high level of inter-dependence of several of our economies.
• Help prepare a website with informational material in all SAARC languages.
• Sharing software in our own integrated Health Information Platform for Disease Surveillance, and training to use this MIS system, for all SAARC partners.
• Use of the SAARC Disaster Management Centre, to identify and popularize best practices in fighting COVID-19.
• For the furture: proposed creating a Research Platform for all SAARC States to share ideas and proposals for disgnostic and therapeutic interventions for diseases and epidemics. Indian Council of Medical Research will help coordinate this.
• The conference can also be viewed through the following link:

           https://www.narendramodi.in/watch-live

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Embassy of India 

Santiago

6 March 2020

India's COVID-19 Response

• Cluster containment strategies have been implemented in coordination with all relevant authorities at all levels.
• Quarantine facilities have been identified for use as required.
• Personal protection facilities such as mask are being stocked in all hospitals.
• Special training is being given to enable proper handling of COVID-19 to health staffs across India, for which exercise will be completed by 15 March 2020.
• Community awareness is being built using print, electronic and social media in all Indian languages.

SECTION TWO: COVID-19 TRAVEL ADVISORIES

Embassy of India

Santiago

May 2, 2020

TRAVEL ADVISORY No. 7

•  Santiago airport will remain closed for another week till 8 May.
• Indian airports will stay closed to commercial passenger traffic for another 2 weeks from 4 May onwards.
• Details of evacuation flights being planned by Government of India have not yet been shared with us. We will inform you of the same as soon as we are sent the details.
• We seek your understanding and patience as the complex logistics of evacuation are being worked out.
  
  

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Embassy of India

Santiago

April 14, 2020

TRAVEL ADVISORY 6

The Government of India has decided to extend the internal and external lockdown in the country till 3 May 2020. All travel services, including international flights, will remain suspended till then, and all establishments not declared as essential will remain closed.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

March 19, 2020

TRAVEL ADVISORY 5

With immediate effect, any person who has visited European Union, European Free Trade Association, Turkey, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Philippines and Malaysia on or after 15 February 2020, is prohibited from entering India. All airlines have been requested not to take on board any such passenger for onward journey to India.

As an additional precaution, it has been decided that no scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall take off from any foreign airport for any airport in India, after 0001 hrs GMT of March 22, 2020 (i.e. 0531 hrs Indian Standard Time (IST) of March 22, 2020). These instructions shall remain in force till 0001 hrs GMT of March 29, 2020.

This means that no incoming scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to disembark its passengers, whether foreigners or Indians, on Indian soil after 2001 hrs GMT of March 22, 2020 (i.e. 0131 hrs Indian Standard Time of March 23, 2020).

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Embassy of India

Santiago

17 March 2020

Travel Advisory 4

The following measures will be in effect after 1500 hrs Indian Standard Time (IST) today:

(i) Travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia to India is prohibited with immediate effect. No flight shall take off from these countries to India after 1500 hours Indian Standard Time (IST). The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.

(ii) This instruction is a temporary measure and shall be in force till 31st March 2020 and will be reviewed subsequently.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

16 March 2020

Travel Advisory 3

The following measures will be in effect from March 18, 2020 onwards:

(i) Expanding compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 18 March 2020 at the port of first departure.

(ii) Travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India is prohibited with effect from 18 March 2020. No airline shall board a passenger from these nations to India with effect from 1200 GMT on 18 March 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.

(iii) Both these instructions are temporary measures and shall be in force till 31 March 2020 and will be reviewed subsequently.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

12 March 2020

Travel Advisory 2

Visa Restrictions related to COVID-19

1. With immediate effect, and supersession of all earlier advisories issued on this subject by the Government of India, the following visa restrictions are now in effect:-

1. All existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to Diplomats, Officials, UN / International organizations, Employment, Project visas stand suspended till April 15.2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India.
2. Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid. They may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion etc. of their visa or grant of any consular service if they choose to do so.
3. Visa fee travel facility granted to OCI card holders shall be kept in abeyance till April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020 at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India.
4. Any Foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the nearest Indian Mission for fresh visa.
5. All incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, arriving from any destination and having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany on or after Feb. 15, 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020at the port of departure of such travelers.
6. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated Immigration Check posts with robust medical screening facilities. These will be notified separately by Ministry of Home Affairs.

2. In addition to the above visa restrictions the following travel advisory is hereby issued in accordance with instructions of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

1. Indian nationals presently abroad are advised to avoid non-essential travel. They are hereby informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days on their arrival in India.
2. All Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. On their return they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days.

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Embassy of India

Santiago

10 March 2020

Travel Advisory 1

For those of you who wish to check travel restrictions being imposed by various countries because of the COVID-19 crisis, you may find it useful to visit

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm 

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• Visas issued to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China have been suspended for the duration.
• All passengers arriving in India will need to undergo medical screening at point of entry.