In the wake of rising Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the India Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India, today, i.e., Friday, July 31, 2020 announced to extend the suspension of international commercial passenger flights till August 31, 2020.
However, this restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. During the suspension period, more than 2,500 repatriation flights by foreign carriers have been approved to uplift stranded passengers to and from India.
Under the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, Air India and Air India Express have uplifted 2,67,436 stranded passengers between May 6 to July 30, 2020. Other charters uplifted 4,86,811 stranded passengers. Under the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, India aims to bring back all the Indian stranded abroad.
India has already signed ‘Transport Bubble’ agreements have been signed with United States (U.S.), France, Germany and Kuwait, to allow gradual movement of passenger traffic. Transport Bubbles or “Air Travel Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between 2 countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services while regular international flights remain suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic. They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.
India is also working on a similar agreement with United Kingdom (U.K.), under which there would be 2 flights per day between Delhi and London. It is to be noted that scheduled international passenger flights in India have been suspended since March 25, 2020 when the Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi announced the first lockdown.
Meanwhile, with another highest single day spike of 55,079 cases and 779 casualties, the COVID-19 tally in India has surged to 16,38,871 cases and 35,747 casualties. Maharashtra, the worst affected State reported 10,320 fresh cases and 265 casualties today, taking the total number of cases in the State to 4,22,118 and casualties to 14,994. Tamil Nadu, the second worst affected State reported 5,881 fresh cases and 97 casualties. The total number of cases in Tamil Nadu now stand at 2,45,859 and casualties at 3,935. Delhi is the third worst affected place with 1,195 fresh cases and 27 casualties pushing the tally to 1,35,598 cases and 3,963 casualties.
Andhra Pradesh reported 10,376 fresh cases, pushing the aggregate to 1,40,933 with 1,349 casualties. With 2,986 fresh cases, Bihar has crossed the 50,000 mark with 298 casualties.
In other developments, the next round of sero-prevalence survey in Delhi will begin tomorrow, i.e., Saturday, August 1, 2020 to comprehensively analyse the Covid-19 situation in Delhi. The survey will continue for 5 days. The Lieutenant General of Delhi – Anil Baijal has cancelled the orders of Delhi Government to open hotels and weekly markets on a trial basis. The Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has extended the lockdown guidelines till August 5, 2020.
The Ministry of Health & family welfare (MoHFW) has said that recovery rate has improved to 64.54%. The doubling rate of cases is 21 days. It also said that recovered COVID-19 patients in India are now 1.9 times of the total active cases, while the fatality rate has dropped to 2.21%.
