Amid Covid Spike US Puts New Travel Restrictions To India From May 4; Exempts Students, Academics And Journalists From Ban

"In light of extraordinarily high COVID-19 case loads and multiple variants circulating in India," the official said that these new travel restrictions were advised by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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New Delhi: Starting next week, the United States is going to restrict travel to India due to the rapid surge in caseload, a decision taken by the Biden Administration following the advice of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the White House said on Friday. 

"On the advice of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the administration will restrict travel from India," Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

She cited "extraordinarily high Covid-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in India" and said the policy.

The policy will take effect May 4.

Kamala Harris on India's current state

On Friday, while speaking to the press U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris described that the coronavirus situation in India as "tragic" and said they are committed to supporting the country while it battles this virus.

'There is no question that it is a great tragedy, in terms of the loss of life, and as I have said before, and I will say again, we as a country have made a commitment to the people of India to support them', Harris told reporters in Cincinnati, Ohio.

We have already made a commitment in terms of a dollar amount that will go to PPE and a number of other things. But it is tragic. My prayers go to the people on the suffering, the blatant suffering that is happening, Harris was reported as saying by PTI. 

Exemptions for journalists, students

Some students, academics, journalists and individuals have been exempted from the India travel ban announced by President Joe Biden, the US State Department said. According to the Department, the travel ban exemption is in line with a similar exemption that the US has granted to some categories of travellers from Brazil, China, Iran and or South Africa. 

Secretary Tony Blinken has applied the same set of National Interest Exceptions to India that he had previously applied to all other regional travel restrictions currently in effect as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department said according to PTI.

Students seeking to commence studies in the fall, academics, journalists and individuals who provide critical infrastructure support in countries affected by a geographic COVID-19 restriction may qualify for the exception, it said.

The Department continued, that the pandemic has limit the number of visas our embassies and consulates abroad are able to process. As always, visa applicants should check the website of the nearest embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information about visa appointment availability.