The External Affairs Minister on March 12 said that a very detailed tracking procedure was in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus and untested people cannot be brought back to the country in a very severe epidemic situation as the nation's health security has to be ensured.

The minister, who was replying to queries of members on his statement concerning Indians stranded in Iran due to COVID -19, said that India has not imposed a ban on foreign nationals coming to the country, but added that if people from certain countries come, they have to go through quarantine. "I want to clarify that India has not imposed a ban. India has said that if people from certain countries who are coming here, they have to go through quarantine. In certain cases, compulsory quarantine and in some cases, discretionary quarantine - and Indian citizens, who are coming back, will obviously come back to quarantine conditions if that is required," he said.

Referring to the issue of tracking those who come in, he said that there is a very detailed tracking procedure. "In fact, the group of ministers has seen every patient who was tested positive and has tracked hundreds of people who have been in contact with that patient. It is not that we are only quarantining. There is a very detailed tracking procedure in place and it is because of that we have been able to keep it to the limit that we have," he said. Responding to concerns of DMK member, he said there were no coronavirus cases so far among any of the Indian fishermen in Iran but stated that they have difficulty in getting food and other things.

"Our consulate is in touch with them and will continue to be in touch with them. We are monitoring the situation and we are setting up a nodal centre to check their welfare and welfare of the other people," he said. The minister said that the government was helping the people who were stranded at airports. "We are preventing a sense of panic," he added. He said that the government has kept in abeyance certain categories of visas for certain countries where there is a prevalence of coronavirus. "Ours is not the only country that has done that. There are a lot of other countries that have also done that. We were among the earliest to do it," he said.

The External Affairs Minister also said that steps taken were decided on the basis of situation in different countries, adding that the central government has to prioritise. "We have to see where the problem is more severe and what kind of people are affected. For example, pilgrims are affected because they live in conditions where the spread of disease is very possible, students are affected because the dormitories are closed," he said. "We have to see where we should give the attention and where the resources should be given," he further said.

Referring to concerns raised by National Conference member about delay in evacuation of Indians from Iran, the External Affairs Minister said, "There has been a very difficult situation in Iran because their own system is under severe pressure." "We first tried to get everybody help in Iran. When we realised that this was not happening, we were required to send our medical team. We had to actually establish a clinic at Qom. We had to shift even that to Tehran and ask the people to go from Qom to Tehran because that was the compulsion on us there. So, there has been no lack of sensitivity to the situation of people but please understand that it is a very difficult situation in Iran and we are working on it," he said. He said that 58 people have come back.
 
"I expect, maybe, another more than 200 would come back soon and the numbers will keep increasing," the minister said. The External Affairs Minister said that one medical team was operating at Tehran. "We are asking people to come to Tehran for testing. If there is a problem, we will find a way of reaching people in Mashhad. We will not leave them out there. I can give you that assurance," he further said.

Referring to the issue raised by AAP MP about 30 students of Punjab stranded at Italy airport, he said that there are not 30 students but there are many more students from different parts of the country. "For me, I need to find a way of helping or bringing all of them back. We are at it. We can only bring them back if they are tested. They have to be tested and to test them, we have started the sampling today. We cannot bring back untested people in very severe epidemic situation because I have the security of this country to worry about as well," the External Affairs Minister said.

He also said that the government has identified a large number of possible quarantine centres. "Till now, most of the quarantine is taking place in Manesar and close by, but if the quarantine numbers mount, we have already initiated an exercise in cooperation with different ministries and state governments. We have a much bigger contingency plan for quarantining," the minister asserted. Referring to a query of Congress member, the External Affairs Minister said that the government was sensitive to the condition of Indians in the Gulf in the wake of concerns of the spread of coronovirus. "So far in the Gulf, the cases have been very limited. But we are very much on alert because we totally share the member's concern that if the situation becomes worse there, they will have to be a priority area. So, it is very much on our radar," he said.

In his suo moto statement, the External Affairs Minister stated that the situation in Italy is now emerging as a cause of great concern and steps in this regard have already been initiated. "It has been decided to make provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collect samples for testing. A medical team is being sent there from India. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we will respond accordingly," he said.

The External Affairs Minister informed that a senior official has been appointed in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to coordinate the coronavirus response internationally. "A nodal office is being established to speedily process requests for assistance that are naturally expected to increase from different parts of the world. Their details will be made available very shortly," he said. He said that the government remains fully committed towards "the welfare of Indian nationals in any part of the world as well as ensuring the safety and security of our homeland".