No ILP to Foreign Nationals amid Coronavirus Scare, Says Sikkim

foreign nationals

Guwahati, March 5, 2020:

Amid coronavirus scare across the nation and beyond, the Northeast Indian State Sikkim has decided to not to issue Inner Line Permit (ILP) to foreign nationals with effect from March 5.

A notice that was issued earlier today by the Home Department of Sikkim reads thus: "(...)no Inner Line Permit (ILP) may be issued w.e.f. 5th March, 2020 to all foreign nationals. This also includes the Nationals of Bhutan."

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The communique also informed that no permits may be issued by Tourism and Civil Aviation Department with immediate effect.

A spike in novel coronavirus in India has prompted concerns that the world's second-most populous country could face its own outbreak of the deadly virus, which to date has infected more than 95,000 people and killed at least 3,283 worldwide.

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Twenty-nine cases have been confirmed inside the country, including three who have recovered. Many of the cases are linked to a group of travelers from Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking to allay fears over an outbreak of the disease, said "there is no need to panic" earlier this week on Twitter and advised the public that the government is "working together" to stop the virus from spreading further.

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Edited By: Admin

Published On: Mar 05, 2020