In light of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, the US has upgraded its travel advisory for India and urged citizens to reconsider travelling to the country. The travel warning has been downgraded from Level 4 to Level 3. Level 4 restrictions prohibit all travel from the specified country, while Level 3 restrictions encourage travellers to reconsider their plans.
On Monday, the US State Department issued a statement easing travel restrictions to India, stating that the advisory encourages travel to the country in light of the region’s Covid-19 pandemic situation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 3 travel health notice for India due to the high number of Covid-19 cases there. “Your risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorised vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers,” CDC said.
The US has limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana to western West Bengal, according to the advisory, because US government employees must obtain special permission to visit these areas.
People should also reconsider travelling to India due to Covid-19 and exercise increased caution due to crime and terrorism, according to the advisory. Review your personal security plans and stay aware of your surroundings, according to the warning.
In May of this year, the US issued a Level 4 category advisory for India, prohibiting visitors from entering the country. The warning was issued in the aftermath of India’s deadly second coronavirus pandemic, which saw over 400,000 Covid-19 cases reported during that time period. People scrambled to find medicines and beds as the pandemic, driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant, overwhelmed hospitals and medical infrastructure.
