Biden Administration: Travel From India Will Be Restricted Starting Next Week

The policy will be implemented in light of extraordinarily high COVID-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in India,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. “The policy will take effect on Tuesday, May 4.”

Psaki said the decision, which applies to non-U.S. citizens, was made following advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The policy does not apply to permanent U.S. residents and family members.

Health officials in India report more than 18 million cases of the virus and over 200,000 deaths. The country has repeatedly set and broken daily records for infections and deaths this week. Experts believe the figures are an undercount of the true totals.

The first plane carrying aid from the U.S. arrived in India on Friday. Another plane carrying equipment like masks and test kits is expected to leave the U.S. on Friday.

President Joe Biden this week told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the U.S. will provide “a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics.”

The U.S. currently requires international travelers to provide a negative COVID-19 test and quarantine.