US eases India travel advisory to 'moderate'

THE US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered India's travel advisory to "Level 2: moderate," while the state department eased its India rating to "Level 2: exercise increased caution."

The new advisory level, which is considered safe, came in the wake of the significant improvement in the Covid situation in the country.

In addition to India, the US currently bars most non-US citizens who within the last 14 days have been in the UK, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without internal border controls, or in Ireland, China, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil.

President Joe Biden on April 30 imposed new travel restrictions on India in light of Covid-19, barring most non-US citizens from entering the US who had been in India within the previous 14 days.

The CDC currently lists more than 70 countries at its travel advisory rating.

The state department also urged Americans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest.

The US also warned against travel to Turkey because of a rising number of Covid-19 cases there.

The CDC added Turkey to its "Level 4: very high" Covid-19 level, while the state department issued its parallel: "Level 4: do not travel" advisory.

Despite the change, the US government shows no sign of easing any Covid-19 restrictions.

White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients reiterated on August 5 that in light "of the Delta variant, the US will maintain the existing travel restrictions at this point."

Last week, Canada opened to fully vaccinated American tourists for the first time in 16 months. However, the US has not eased any restrictions that barring non-essential non-US citizens from crossing its land borders with Mexico and Canada.

Those current US restrictions have been repeatedly renewed in 30-day increments and are expected to be extended before they expire on Saturday (21).