US eases travel advisory for India

PTI Updated - August 17, 2021 at 08:49 AM.

Decision was made considering improvement of India’s Covid situation

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 05: People wait for their luggage at an American Airlines baggage claim at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport on August 05, 2021 in Houston, Texas. American and Spirit Airlines have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights in recent days as the demand for vacation and other travel plans has surged following the ramp up of Covid-19 vaccinations. Some of the cancellations come amid a weekend of storms that affected hubs for both carriers, but also a shortage of flight crews due to the ramp up in service is having an effect. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

The US eased its travel advisory for India on Monday, lowering it to Level 2: Moderate.

The new travel advisory of Level 2 – which is considered as safe – came in the wake of the significant improvement in Covid situation in India.

Early this year, the US had put India in Level 4, asking its citizens not to travel to India, which at that point of time was experiencing an unprecedented second wave of Covid-19.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for India due to Covid-19, indicating a moderate level of Covid-19 in the country.

“Your risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorised vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers,” the State Department said.

At the same time, the State Department urged Americans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest.

They have also been advised not to travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict.

Published on August 17, 2021 03:19