Indian gov’t bans export of alcohol-based hand sanitisers in view of COVID-19

   NEW DELHI, May 7  -- India's federal government has banned the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, officials said Thursday.
   An official notification to this regard was issued on Wednesday by the country's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
   "Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are prohibited for export," said the order issued by DGFT that comes under the federal ministry of commerce.
   Hand sanitizers are in demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries.
   Officials said the move to stop the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizers was meant to keep the adequate supply at home and its free availability in the domestic market.
   Health experts say washing hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers were key activities to fight the spread of COVID-19, besides maintaining social distancing and using face masks.
   Immediately after the outbreak of COVID-19 people went for panic buying of hand sanitizers and the products were soon out of stock at retail outlets across the country.
   Sanitizers of reputed companies are still unavailable in the market due to the extended lockdown.
   Meanwhile, India's federal health ministry Thursday said the number of COVID-19 cases in India reached 52,952 and death toll rose to 1,783.  Xinhua