GUWAHATI: Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Wednesday that the Centre has extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom till January 7, 2021. The flights operations were suspended because of a new strain of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health had issued a notice recommending the extension of temporary suspension of flights originating in UK to India till January 7th. This notice was issued keeping in regard the inputs received from the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG).
The Health Ministry also suggested to the Ministry of Civil Aviation that even after January 7th, strict checking and regulation of limited number of flights from the UK may be considered.
“Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021. Thereafter strictly regulated resumption will take place for which details will be announced shortly,” Puri said on Twitter.
The Union Health Secretary has also written to all the States to keep a “strict vigil” on potential “super spreader” events, and to impose possible local restrictions on the crowding of people at New Year’s and winter events.
However, no restrictions have been imposed on the movement of Inter-state and Intra-state person and goods.