by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- As the ongoing COVID-19 situation has shown massive improvements over the past months, India continues to ease the restrictions, while mulling over opening the country for international tourists.
Over the past week, India's daily COVID-19 cases have plateaued around 30,000. However, the Indian government Tuesday said 18,795 new cases were reported across the country in the last 24 hours, the lowest in over 200 days.
According to India's health ministry, the country's active cases account for 0.86 percent of its total cases, standing at 292,206. The recovery rate stands at 97.81 percent.
REVIVING TOURISM
In a bid to revive the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors, India is mulling over allowing the return of international tourists after a pause for one and a half years.
Insiders say that India's home ministry is deliberating with the tourism ministry and all other stakeholders on the date and modalities for opening the country for foreign tourists. A decision is reportedly likely to be made this week.
The Indian government has announced that the first half of one million foreign tourists will be issued visas free of cost, in a bid to revive the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors badly hit by the pandemic since March 2020 when a nationwide lockdown was announced with e-tourist visas suspended.
The free visa to the tourists will be issued till March 31, 2022, or on a first-come-first-serve basis, whichever is earlier.
The move came amid heavy pressure from stakeholders in the tourism industry that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently highlighted the need to focus on addressing COVID-19's economic impact. "To that end, international travel should be made easier through mutual recognition of vaccination certificates," he said last week.
RESUMING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Canada on Sunday lifted the ban on direct passenger flights from India, which was imposed in April when the second wave of COVID-19 swept India. It resumed the direct flights on Monday, whereas Air India will resume services on Thursday.
"Travellers must have proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test from the approved Genestrings Laboratory at the Delhi airport taken within 18 hours of the scheduled departure of their direct flight to Canada," Transport Canada said in a statement.
As commercial international passenger flights remain suspended in the country, India said earlier this month that it was resuming flights to dozens of cities under Air Bubble arrangements.
According to the ministry of civil aviation's notification, special international flights can be operated by airlines under an air-bubble pact between the two countries.
India has formed air-bubble pacts with more than two dozen countries. The schedule of these flights is available only till Sept. 30.
ROW OVER COVID-19 VACCINATION
A controversy erupted between India and Britain after the latter announced its new COVID-19 guidelines for people visiting Britain after Oct. 4.
Britain currently has a system that designates countries in the "red", "amber" and "green" list. A person, who been in a country on the "red list" for 10 days before arrival in Britain, has to be quarantined for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test, including those fully vaccinated.
India features in the "amber list," and people, even those doubly vaccinated who visit Britain from India, have to serve the quarantine. The move triggered a row, with India warning of "reciprocal measures" if Covishield, the Indian version of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, was not recognized.
Amid the row over COVID-19 vaccine policy, Britain has announced it recognizes the Covishield vaccine, but noted that Indians who have taken the Covidshield vaccine still will have to undergo self-isolation for 10 days due to a "certification" issue.
"Basic issue is here is a vaccine Covishield which is a licensed product of a U.K. company, manufactured in India, of which we have supplied five million doses to the U.K. at the request of the government of U.K. We understand this is being used in the national health system and therefore, the non-recognition of Covishield is a discriminating policy," India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said last week during a media briefing.
"The external affairs minister has raised the issue strongly with the new U.K. foreign secretary. If he doesn't get satisfaction, we would be within our rights to impose reciprocal measures," he said.
READY TO OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS
After recording over 400,000 cases a day during the peak time of the second wave of COVID-19, India had to impose strict restrictions on public gatherings and markets.
India's COVID-19 situation, which the World Health Organization said in May was hugely concerning, has improved, as the country is recording less than 30,000 infections a day.
Markets and businesses have opened, and restrictions on public movements were eased, and public transport, like buses, trains and metros, have also resumed.
Local governments in states around India have also ordered the opening of cinema halls, with Maharashtra, the worst affected state by COVID-19, being the latest state to open movie theatres, starting from Oct. 22.
Colleges and schools have been opened across India, while parents in some cities are demanding reopening of schools for primary class students as well.
Health experts have urged people to follow COVID-19 guidelines, including wearing face masks, washing hands regularly, and keeping social distance, in order to prevent another surge from taking place. Enditem
