By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday imposed new journey restrictions on India in mild of the COVID-19 epidemic, barring most non-U.S. residents from coming into the US.
The brand new restrictions, which take impact on Tuesday, Could four at 12:01 am ET (0401 GMT), are on the recommendation of the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) and have been imposed as a result of “the magnitude and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic” in India was “surging,” the White Home mentioned.
Biden on Friday signed a proclamation implementing the restrictions, which have been first reported by Reuters.
The proclamation mentioned India “accounts for over one-third of recent international instances” and added that “proactive measures are required to guard the nation’s public well being from vacationers coming into the US” from India.
In January, Biden issued an analogous ban on most non-U.S. residents coming into the nation who’ve just lately been in South Africa. He additionally reimposed an entry ban on almost all non-U.S. vacationers who’ve been in Brazil, the UK, Eire and 26 international locations in Europe that enable journey throughout open borders. China and Iran are additionally each lined by the coverage.
The coverage means most non-U.S. residents who’ve been in one of many said international locations throughout the final 14 days aren’t eligible to journey to the US. Everlasting U.S. residents and members of the family and another non-U.S. residents, resembling college students, are exempted.
The choice to impose the newest journey restrictions took place rapidly and was solely reached within the final 24 hours, sources mentioned.
The Indian Embassy in Washington didn’t instantly remark.
Second solely to the US in complete infections, India has reported greater than 300,000 new instances every day for 9 days in a row, hitting one other international file of 386,452 on Friday.
Whole deaths have surpassed 200,000 and instances are nearing 19 million – almost eight million since February alone – as virulent new strains have mixed with “super-spreader” occasions resembling political rallies and non secular festivals.
Medical consultants say actual numbers could also be 5 to 10 occasions greater than the official tally.
Different international locations have imposed comparable journey restrictions on India, together with the UK, Germany, Italy and Singapore, whereas Canada, Hong Kong and New Zealand have suspended all business journey with India.
On Wednesday, the White Home mentioned the US was sending provides value greater than $100 million to India to assist it combat the COVID-19 surge.
The provides embody oxygen cylinders, N95 masks and fast diagnostic assessments. The US additionally has redirected its personal order of AstraZeneca AZN.L manufacturing provides to India, which is able to enable it to make over 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, in response to the White Home.
AIR TRAVEL
Practically all vacationers to the US by air should present proof of a damaging coronavirus take a look at or restoration from COVID-19.
In current weeks, the White Home and U.S. companies have begun holding conversations about the way to finally unwind the coverage as vaccination campaigns are rolling out and instances are declining in some international locations.
U.S. worldwide air journey stays down 60% from pre-COVID-19 ranges, whereas U.S. home air journey is down 40%, in response to business commerce group Airways for America.
U.S. airways and journey teams have urged the White Home to set benchmarks for the eventual loosening of restrictions.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Enhancing by Rosalba O’Brien)
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