After the Union Minister said that India had reported 25 new positive cases of Coronavirus, the government tightened travel restrictions and announced that all international passengers will be screened for coronavirus symptoms.
The government also suspended all the visas granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan on or before February 3.
In a new advisory, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, also suspended the visas to foreign nationals travelled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Japan issued to them on or after February 2.
Fourteen of the 21 Italian nationals and an Indian national, lodged in a quarantine camp at Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) facility in Chhawla, have been infected with the coronavirus, Union Health Minister said on Wednesday.
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The Italians were part of a group of 23 tourists who had visited Rajasthan last month. The driver accompanying them, -- an Indian national -- was also infected.
On of the tourists of the group is currently quarantined in Jaipur after he tested positive. His wife was also infected and is under observation.
The Union Minister said that the total number of positive cases in the country had risen to 28: sixteen Italian tourists and 12 Indian nationals. Of those 12, three cases in Kerala were reported last month. They had later recovered.
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"There are at least 28 confirmed cases of the coronavirus that have been reported so far in India. Out of which three patients, who were earlier infected in Kerala, have been cured of the disease," said the minister.
According to the Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, presently at least 9 Indian nationals and 16 foreign nationals are infected with the disease.
"There is one patient in Delhi, one in Telangana and six in Agra who have tested positive for COVID-19. The driver of the group of Italian nationals, who were touring in Jaipur, has also tested positive. Apart from these, 16 Italian nationals have tested positive for the disease," said Harsh Vardhan during the presser.
Talking about the potential of the spread of the disease, the minister said that one person in Delhi infected six of his own family members in Agra. In the Italian national's case, the tourist infected his wife also and thus other group members.
According to the health minister, the government of Italy has asked the Italian nationals to stay in India only for the time being, therefore, all of them have been currently quarantined at ITBP isolation facility in Chhawla.
"We had to trace at least 66 people's contact in view of one positive case. In Telangana, at least 88 contacts were traced," the minister told media here, adding "people should avoid public gathering during this time. Even the Prime Minister has cancelled his Holi Milan programmes in view of coronavirus.
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In a statement released earlier by the health ministry, it said: "24 persons, including 21 Italian tourists and three Indians (bus driver, conductor and tourist guide) have been shifted to the ITBP facility for testing. Depending on the result, the future course of action will be taken."
