India on US’ ‘do not travel’ list due to COVID-19 cases spike

The United States has kept India in its list of countries under ‘do not travel’ advisories due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but took Pakistan and Bangladesh off it.

“COVID-19 risk in India is high. If you get sick in India and need medical care, resources may be limited,” the CDC has advised American travellers.
“COVID-19 risk in India is high. If you get sick in India and need medical care, resources may be limited,” the CDC has advised American travellers. Photo: Connected to India

“We continue to monitor health and safety conditions around the world, working with the CDC and other agencies, as conditions evolve,” the US state department said.

“Do not travel to India due to Covid-19,” said the department’s travel advisory page, which also said, “exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.”

The US removed a pandemic-related global travel advisory for Americans in August and switched to a country-specific system, working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It had then kept most countries in the category of ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’.

“COVID-19 risk in India is high. If you get sick in India and need medical care, resources may be limited,” the CDC has advised American travellers.

Pakistan and Bangladesh were among the six countries moved to the category of less prohibitive ‘Level 3: reconsider travel’. The other four were Benin, Kuwait, Mexico, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.