COVID-19 Surge: These Countries Have Banned Flights, Travellers From India - India Bytes

New Delhi: Singapore and Canada on Friday joined the list of countries to have banned flights and travellers amid the COVID-19 surge.

Long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore from April 24, as the city-state was on “heightened alert” against Covid-19, according to a media report.

The decision will also impact people who have prior approval to enter Singapore, PTI quoted Education Minister Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the multi-ministerial task force handling the pandemic as saying on Thursday.

In addition, people who have recently travelled to India and have not completed their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) by 11.59 pm on Thursday night will have to complete their additional seven-day SHN at a dedicated facility rather than their places of residence.

This group will undergo three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the virus: when they arrive, on the 14th day of their SHN, and before the end of their SHN.

Canada has said it would ban all flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days due to the growing wave of COVID-19 cases in that region.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the ban would start late on Thursday.

Before this, the United Kingdom added India to its COVID-19 ‘red list’ on Monday. Anyone not a resident of the UK or Ireland, or a British citizen, cannot enter the UK if they have been to India in the previous 10 days. UK residents arriving in the country from India will have to quarantine in a hotel for 11 nights. The rule will come into effect on April 23.

Indonesia will also stop issuing visas for foreigners who have been in India in the past 14 days to prevent the spread of different coronavirus strains, its Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Friday.

Indonesians arriving from India will be allowed to enter, however, but must follow stricter health protocols and quarantine, the Minister said. The measures are effective from April 25.

Earlier this month, New Zealand had suspended the entry of travellers from India. It was followed by Hong Kong banning passenger flights from India for 14 days starting April 20.