The U.S. will begin restricting travel from India out of concerns over an uptick in Covid-19 caseloads and variants there.
“On the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration will restrict travel from India starting immediately,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. “The policy will be implemented in light of extraordinarily high COVID-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in the India.”
The policy will take effect on Tuesday, the White House said.
On Thursday, Psaki said that the U.S. is looking to provide oxygen supplies, including additional ventilators, as well as personal protective equipment and treatment courses of the antiviral drug remdesivir . The White House also announced that it would re-direct its own order of Astra Zeneca manufacturing supplies to India, which will allow the country to make 20 million doses of the vaccine.
The surge in cases has strained India’s health care system, while its vaccine rollout has been slow.
Biden spoke to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week, and the White House said that the “two leaders resolved that the United States and India will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the effort to protect our citizens and the health of our communities.”
More to come.
