“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020,” it said in the statement.

The order will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13.

The decision was taken at the meeting of group of ministers held here under the chairmanship of Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure,” the statement said.

Visa-free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15.

Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission, the release said, adding that all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

Over 1,18,000 positive cases have been reported globally across 114 countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11 said that according to its assessment, COVID-19 “can be characterised as a pandemic.”

“WHO has been assessing this outbreak round-the-clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction,” it said.

“Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“The progress that we have achieved under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be clearly seen. We are aggressively witnessing reforms in every area of the health sector,” Vardhan said after inaugurating a latest CGHS Bhawan at Sector 13 in R K Puram here.The Union minister also launched the annual health check-up scheme for CGHS beneficiaries, who are pensioners of the age of 75 years and above. 

“CGHS services should be made available in 100 cities by 2022, when the prime minister also wishes to deliver a New India to all citizens,” Vardhan said.

The new bhawan is the CGHS’s headquarters and houses the administrative section, the CGHS Card section, and a state-of-the-art wellness centre. On the occasion, Vardhan said CGHS services have undergone a remarkable and a positive change. While the rules have been simplified, several people friendly facilities have also been added, he said. 

The scheme has the potential of becoming one of the best in the world. I wish to have an internal brainstorming session among senior CGHS doctors to test the possibilities of further improvement of the scheme, for strengthening the transparency and adding further reforms the minister said. 

He assured CGHS doctors that all positive reforms shall be incorporated in the planning and appealed to beneficiaries to send suggestions for improvement of services. Vardhan also hailed the CGHS’s initiative of calling telephonically and inquiring about the health of beneficiaries who are above 80 years of age.