New Delhi: As a precautionary measure against the spread of novel coronavirus, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain closed for exploratory tour visits from Friday, March 13, till further notice.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex (RBMC) and the Change of Guard ceremony will also not be open to public till further notice.
The decision comes a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus as a pandemic.
India till now has evacuated 900 Indian citizens along with 48 belonging to other nationalities like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru.
In addition, 83 evacuees from Italy who arrived on Wednesday have been housed at Manesar facility for quarantine. All patients in hospitals are being treated and reported to be stable.
The Screening for the symptoms of the virus was started from January 17 at 3 airports (Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata) which was extended to 4 more airports (Chennai, Cochin, Bengaluru, Hyderabad) on January 21 and subsequently extended to 30 airports. All incoming passengers are being universally screened at the 30 airports. Similarly, screening was initiated for vessels arriving at 12 major ports and 65 non-major ports as a precautionary measure.
As of now, 73 cases are confirmed for COVID-19. Three of these cases from Kerala have recovered and been discharged.
