NEw DELHI: The government on Wednesday suspended all visas to India as the cases of coronavirus in the country sharply ncreases. Altogether, 67 people have contracted the virus a chunk of them are a group of tourists from Italy.

In an order this evening, the Union health ministry said all existing visas -- diplomatic, official, UN/International organizations, employment, project visas will be suspended till April 15. "This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure... Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian mission," read a communique, issued after a meeting of a Group of Ministers, headed by health minister Dr Harshvardhan.

Visa facilities had been partially suspended earlier from the COVID-19 nations, countries where the virus is on a rampage.