In a statement tabled before the Rajya Sabha, Minister of External Affairs S.
Around 9,000 people have been infected with the novel
The minister said the Indian embassy in Tehran and consulates in Bandar Abbas and Zahidan reached out immediately to Indian nationals in Iran to ascertain their welfare and are in constant touch with them.
"The initial focus is on visiting pilgrims. Many of them are in Qom, where coronavirus incidence has been strong. Their age and the nature of their residency increases the risks of exposure. As their welfare is being currently addressed, we are now focusing on Indian students," Jaishankar told the House. Many of the students, he said, are studying medicine.
The southern provinces of Iran, including cities of Asaalouyeh, Chiruyeh and Kish where most fishermen are located, the minister said, have not been affected so severely. "These factors will guide our approach in the coming days," he said.
Given the scale of COVID -19 infection and its pressure on Iran's resources, a team of six Indian health officials has been deputed to Iran in order to set up testing and sampling facilities there.
The first batch of 108 samples received in India on March 7 were tested. Fifty-eight Indian pilgrims (25 men, 31 women and 2 children), who tested negative, were repatriated in special IAF C-17 flight on March 10, the minister said.
The government has got samples of another 529 Indians for testing at