WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will restrict travel from India starting on May 4, the White House said Friday, citing a devastating rise in COVID-19 cases in the country and the emergence of potentially dangerous variants of the coronavirus.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden’s administration made the determination on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The policy will be implemented in light of extraordinarily high COVID-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in the India,” she said.
With 386,452 new cases, India now has reported more than 18.7 million since the pandemic began, second only to the United States. The Health Ministry on Friday also reported 3,498 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 208,330. Experts believe both figures are an undercount, but it’s unclear by how much.
The U.S. action comes days after Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the growing health crisis in his country and pledged to immediately send assistance. The U.S. has already moved to send therapeutics, rapid virus test and oxygen to India, along with some materials needed for that country to boost its domestic production of COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, a CDC team of public health experts was expected to soon be on the ground in India to help health officials there move to slow the spread of the virus.
The White House waited on the CDC recommendation before moving to restrict travel, noting that the U.S. already requires negative tests and quarantines for all international travelers. Other restrictions are in place on travel from China, Iran, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil and South Africa, which are or have been hotspots for the coronavirus.
Superville reported from Philadelphia.
The post US to restrict travel from India over COVID starting Tuesday appeared first on East Idaho News.
Source: eastidahonews.com
US to restrict travel from India over COVID starting Tuesday
More from CoronavirusMore posts in Coronavirus »
- Children who suffered complications after COVID will not see recurrence after vaccine, study says
- 47 charged with stealing $250 million from pandemic program meant to provide meals to needy children
- CDC ends recommendations for social distancing and quarantine for COVID-19 control
- CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools
- FDA finds Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective in younger kids
More from NationalMore posts in National »
- You have to see this! 7-year-old girl honors deceased mother by selling lemonade to pay for headstone
- News organizations post open letter urging Biden and Trump to debate ahead of 2024 election
- Roku says 576,000 accounts breached in cyberattack
- Parents discovered bruises on their special-needs son. Now they’re sharing video of him being hit by aide on bus.
- Bill that would make first-cousin marriage illegal in Tennessee passes, but not without a fight
More from WorldMore posts in World »
- Airplane passenger fined in Sydney for urinating in a cup
- You have to see this! Heart-stopping footage shows skiers stuck on ski lift during powerful wind storm
- You have to see this! Elephant lifts safari vehicle with tourists inside off the ground
- WATCH: Kate, Princess of Wales, announces she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy
- Interstellar signal linked to aliens was actually just a truck
Be First to Comment