UK, USA Advise Against Travel to India

As Covid cases, and deaths, continue to surge in India, several countries are executing a ban on travel to the country. 

The US public health agency has warned travellers against heading for India even if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. 

In case the trip is unavoidable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised that travellers should get all vaccine doses. It has also placed India in the highest Level 4 category which implies "very high level of Covid-19".

"Because of the current situation in India, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at the risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants and should avoid all travel to India," the CDC has said as part of its "Key Information for Travelers to India".

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Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has put India on the 'red list' hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India, UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock stated on April 19. 

From 0400 BST on Friday April 23, visitors from India along with 39 other countries will be banned from entering the country. The red list also denies entry to those who have visited the nations on the list in the past 10 days.

Hancock said that there have been 103 cases in the UK showcasing the India variant of Coronavirus therefore including India in the &lsquored list&rsquo of over 39 countries, with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines considering international travel to be the reason for&nbspthe&nbspspread of the virus.

Only British citizens, people with UK residence rights, (and Irish citizens) will be allowed to return. But they must quarantine mandatorily for 10 days from the time of arrival in a government-approved hotel.

The Indian variant is fast-growing in the United Kingdom - a number of new infections, hospitalisations, and deaths have been detected in recent days.

Recently, Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to New Delhi due to the surge in cases in India. 

The travel ban is expected to significantly upset  business operations of Vistara and Air India who are operating a number of planes between the countries.

The new travel rule also applies to Scotland and England as there are currently no direct international flights into Northern Ireland or Wales.