US advises its citizens not to travel India amid COVID surge

New Delhi: The United States has reissued its travel advisory on India, urging its citizens not to travel to the country due to an unprecedented surge in the COVID cases there. India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

“Do not travel to India due to COVID. Exercise increased caution due to crime and terrorism,” the State Department said in its latest travel advisory that looked identical to the one issued on April 28. Both the travel advisory has been marked ‘Level 4’ which is the highest warning level.

On April 28, the Department approved the voluntary departure of family members of US government employees. On May 5, the Department approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees.

“US citizens who wish to depart India should take advantage of available commercial transportation options,” it said. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for India due to COVID, indicating a very high level of COVID in the country.