Rashtrapati Bhavan has been closed off for the general public and tourists. The decision, taken in view of the spread of deadly novel coronavirus Covid-19, means that the general public will not be able to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan for exploratory tour visits.
“As a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain closed for exploratory tour visits from tomorrow, March 13, till further notice,” President Ram Nath Kovind’s Twitter account notified on Thursday.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex (RBMC) and the Change of Guard ceremony have also been closed for general public till further notice.
The announcement comes a week after the entry to famous Mughal Gardens on the president’s estate was closed off for the public in view of the virus outbreak.
Mughal Gardens, which are open to the public for 15 days during the spring season, often attract a huge crowd on a daily basis.
The national capital has registered six coronavirus cases so far. The Delhi government has declared coronavirus an epidemic and announced that all schools, colleges and cinema halls in the national capital will remain shut till March 31.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said disinfecting all public places, including government and private offices and shopping malls has been made compulsory.
The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.