WASHINGTON: The US has lifted the highest level of its global health travel advisory for Americans due to the coronavirus pandemic and restored the previous country-specific system without changing the status of over 50 countries, including that of India and China.
The US state department had issued the Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory on March 19, urging American citizens not to travel overseas due to the pandemic.
In its latest travel advisory on India issued on Thursday, the state department said: “Do not travel to India due to Covid-19. Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.” The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) travel health notice for India, it said.
Travellers to India may experience border closures, airport closures, travel prohibitions, stay at home orders, business closures and other emergency conditions within India, it said.
The CDC has similarly removed its level 3 Global Covid-19 Pandemic Notice. This important change reflects the reality that health and safety conditions are improving in some countries while potentially deteriorating in others, said assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Carl Risch.
By returning to the country-specific travel advisory system, the US is able to give Americans detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions, said .
“The Covid-19 pandemic poses significant risks for travellers and our destination-specific advisories take into account the latest data and public health and safety analysis on Covid-related risks,” Risch said. Other countries which have been put on the Level 4 of travel advisory include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Mexico, Egypt, and Read More – Source
