US CDC Issues Travel Advisory, Lowers Travel Risk To India From Leve 3 To Level 1

The update came in view of the decreasing covid-19 cases in India which translates to a lowered risk of infection for US citizens. 

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New Delhi: The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) issued a travel advisory for India on Monday, categorising it as Level 1 which indicates a low threat. India was kept in the Level 3 category due to the rise in infections during the third wave of covid-19 in India.

The update came in view of the decreasing covid-19 cases in India which translates to a lowered risk of infection for US citizens. 

“Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine,’ a statement by CDC said. 

The statement also included separate advisories for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.

However, the overall category in which India has been kept is Level 2 which advises travellers to exercise increased caution. 

The press statement by the CDC also restricts US citizens from travelling to the Jammu and Kashmir region and 10 km near the India-Pakistan border. 

“The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest,” says the advisory for Jammu and Kashmir region.

For the India-Pakistan border, it says, that travellers should not go there due to the potential risk of “armed conflict.” 

It also talks about the safety of US citizens as it says that “Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest-growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations.”

The advisory further suggests US citizens against travelling to rural areas as the US authorities have “limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas.”