COVID concern: China suspends flights from India

China on Thursday indefinitely suspended air travel from India barring non-Chinese flyers to return to the country following a spike in Covid-19 cases in last week’s Vande Bharat Mission (VBM). Beijing made similar announcements to bar entry of non-Chinese visitors from Britain, Belgium and the Philippines and demanded travellers from the United States, France and Germany present results of additional health tests as it guards itself against a resurgence in coronavirus cases risingaround the world.

The new suspension order is a partial reversal of an easing on September 28, when Beijing allowed all foreigners with valid residence permits to enter.China had banned entry of foreigners in response to the epidemic at the end of March. Officials say more than 1500 Indians had registered to return to China; Beijing’s new announcement makes their return to China uncertain.The Chinese foreign ministry defended the decision, saying it was a “reasonable and fair” measure to tackle the pandemic.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s hereby announced that China has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into China by foreign nationals in India holding valid Chinese visas or residence permits,” the Chinese government said in an announcement. The Chinese statement clarified that foreigners holding “…Chinese diplomatic, service, courtesy and C visas are not affected.”“Foreigners with emergency or humanitarian needs to visit China, can submit visa application to the Chinese Embassy/ Consulates in India. The entry into China with visas issued after November 3rd, 2020 is not affected.”

As many as 23 Covid-19 positive Indians among them 19 asymptomatic carriers of the infection were on board a VBM flight, which landed in the central Chinese city of Wuhan from New Delhi last Friday. The flight had registered the highest number of infected persons on an Indian rescue flight to China so far.