China to evacuate citizens from India amid growing COVID cases

The Chinese embassy in New Delhi on Monday (May 25) said that China will evacuate its citizens in view of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a notice, published on its website in Mandarin, the embassy said students, tourists and businessmen stranded in India will be flown back to China in special planes.

“Under the unified arrangement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant departments, the Chinese embassy and consulates in India will assist students, tourists and temporary businessmen in India who have difficulties and are in urgent need of returning home to take temporary flights back to China,” HT quoted the notice as saying.

The Chinese government has asked its citizens willing to return to register for the same by May 27 morning.

The notice also said that the evacuees will have to pay for their tickets and the ensuing 14-day quarantine after landing.

The embassy, however, has advised COVID-19 patients or suspects or those with fever and cough for 14 days, against applying for evacuation.

The notice also warns applicants against hiding their medical history by taking antipyretics and other inhibitory drugs during quarantine inspection.

The initiative of the Chinese government comes in the backdrop of a standoff between the two countries at the Ladakh border.

India has reported 77,103 COVID-19 cases so far, with the death toll breaching the 4,000-mark.