USA Reissues Level 4 Travel Advisory Urging Citizens Not to Travel to India

Washington- As the COVID-19 cases in India keep skyrocketing and spiraling out of control with every passing day, the US government reissued its travel advisory urging its citizen to refrain from traveling to India. 

India is presently suffering from an unprecedented surge in the cases of the novel coronavirus, reporting more than three lakh fresh cases on a daily basis for the past few days resulting in the overburdening of the healthcare infrastructure dangerously bringing it on the verge of collapse. There have been widespread acute shortages of hospital beds, supply of medical oxygen and life-saving drugs as well as manpower signaling the inefficient functioning of the healthcare sector in India. 

"Do not travel to India due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to crime and terrorism," stated the US state department on Wednesday in its latest travel advisory.

Similar to the travel advisory issued by the US on April 28, the latest travel advisory has been marked 'Level 4' which is the highest warning level. 

On April 28, the family members of US government employees were approved voluntary departure by the state department and on May 5, the Department approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees. The department announced that the US citizens who wish to depart India should take advantage of available commercial transportation options. Read more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for India due to the rampant surge in the cases of the novel coronavirus. Read more

Meanwhile, India as of Wednesday witnessed the highest single-day spike in the cases of COVID-19 reporting 4.12 lakh new infections taking the total COVID-19 cases in the country to over 2.10 crores. 3,980 COVID-induced fatalities have been reported in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 2,30,168. Currently, India has over 35.73 lakh active cases of COVID-19. 

Also read- Goa Records Highest Positivity Rate of 52% in India, 3,496 New Cases, 71 Deaths

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