Australia on Tuesday suspended all direct passenger flights from India due to the unprecedented spike in Covid-19 cases. The decision was taken during a meeting of Cabinet’s national security committee.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the suspension would remain in place until at least May 15 due to clearly present risks of travel from India, leaving thousands of Australians including high-profile cricketers who are currently playing in the IPL. Morrison also said Australia would send medical aid, including oxygen tanks, ventilators and personal protective equipment, to India as its health system strains under the growing caseload.
With this move, Australia joined the list of countries who have banned the flights from India. Thailand, Netherlands, Iran, Canada, UAE, Hong Kong have restricted entry of travellers from India in view of the coronavirus crisis. Air India flights to and from the United Kingdom has been cancelled between April 24 to 30 due to the fresh restrictions imposed by the UK.
With 3,23,144 fresh Coronavirus cases and 2,771 new deaths in a day, India’s Covid tally has climbed to 1,76,36,307.
Last week, Australia had announced that it would cut the number of its citizens able to return from India and other red-zone countries to contain the risk of more virulent strains of Covid spreading. Australia closed its borders to non-citizens and permanent residents last March to prevent the new coronavirus reaching the country. All returning travellers have to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense. The quarantine system has largely helped Australia to keep its Covid-19 numbers relatively low, with just under 29,700 cases and 910 deaths.
Morrison stressed that the suspension was not a permanent measure, saying repatriation flights would resume with the most vulnerable given priority. He said there would be no special treatment for cricketers currently playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Australia had already limited the number of flights from India in an effort to control the spread of coronavirus.
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Australia has recorded fewer than 30,000 cases since the pandemic began and 910 deaths, with no major outbreaks since last year and most parts of the country enjoying few restrictions.