Canada and UAE restrict flights from India as COVID cases surge
Several other countries including Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand have placed some or complete restriction on the arrival of passengers from India which reported the world's highest daily tally of nearly 3.15 lakh cases.
FollowOn a day when India recorded the world's highest daily tally of 3,14,835 new Covid-19 infections, the UAE banned travel from the country for ten days.
The travel ban will come into effect from 11.59 pm on Saturday, 24 April, and is subject to review after 10 days, the Gulf News reported.
Etihad will continue to operate flights to India, carrying passengers both from our network and from Abu Dhabi. Etihad will not be permitted to carry passengers from India, however UAE nationals, Diplomatic Passport Holders and Official Passport Holders or those holding an Official Delegation Letter are exempted from the UAE entry restriction. These passengers will be subject to acceptance and quarantine conditions,” an Etihad spokesperson said.
Also, Canada suspended all passenger flights from India and Pakistan on Thursday for 30 days, Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra announced, citing increased Covid-19 cases detected in travelers arriving from these countries.
"Given the higher number of cases of Covid-19 detected in air passengers arriving in Canada from India and Pakistan... I am suspending all commercial and private passenger flights arriving in Canada from Indian and Pakistan for 30 days," Alghabra told a news conference.
"This is a temporary measure, while we assess the evolving situation and determine appropriate measures going forward," he added.
The restriction will go into effect at 11.30 pm Eastern Time Thursday (0330 GMT Friday).
Meanwhile, Israel issued a travel advisory on Thursday warning citizens including those who have recovered from or been vaccinated against Covid-19 , to refrain from travelling to India, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and Turkey because of high Covid morbidity rates in the seven countries.
