NEW DELHI: After reports of new mutations in SARS-CoV-2 and a surge in a number of variants of concern globally, the Indian government widen the list of nations that have been placed under travel restrictions.
Travellers from the UK, European Union (EU) and West Asia were required to have a mandatory RT-PCR test upon arrival in India.
“Considering the risk of mutations in SARS-CoV-2, we have added to the list of the UK, EU and the Middle East more countries, including South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. International travellers from all these countries would now need RT-PCR negative reports to get on flights to India and RT-PCR testing upon arrival here,” said Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan during a press briefing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring a new coronavirus “variant of interest” named Mu (scientific name B.1.621). In its weekly epidemiological update, published on Tuesday, the global public health agency warned it was becoming increasingly prevalent in Colombia and Ecuador, and showed signs of possible resistance to vaccines.
