Following a high number of positive coronavirus cases in India, New Zealand announced a temporary ban on all travelers from the country, however, Britain issued a ‘Red List’ of banned countries including Pakistan, but omitted India.
Including its own citizens, New Zealand temporarily suspended entry for all travelers from India for about two weeks as it has recorded the most coronavirus cases after United States (US) and Brazil.
The announcement came after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive coronavirus cases at its border and to no surprise, 17 were from India.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in a press conference, “We are temporarily suspending entry into New Zealand for travelers from India”.
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As per details, the suspension applied to all those who had been in India for the last 14 days and it has been the first time New Zealand has announced a ban.
Earlier, New Zealand virtually eliminated the pathogen within its borders and is now reviewing settings to combat it further.
On the other hand, the British government announced that Pakistan has been added to the country’s Red List.
“Red listing means that the only UK, Irish nationals and those with residency rights in the UK will be allowed to travel to the UK if they have been in Pakistan in the 10 days before they arrive”, maintained British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner.
Important travel update: 🇵🇰 will be added to the 🇬🇧’s red list of travel ban countries from 9 April👇 pic.twitter.com/HVRyp9xEzp
— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCDO) April 2, 2021
Kenya, Philippines, and Bangladesh are also on the list for countries that face a ban.
In contrast with the ban in New Zealand, Britain has overlooked the current situation of rising coronavirus cases in India while listing out the countries.
Additionally, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced to visit India at the end of this month as part of efforts to speed up bilateral trade talks.
India is witnessing a threatening resurge in coronavirus cases with over 130,000 reported on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told state CMs to focus on night curfews and micro-containment zones while following the formula of ‘test, track and treat’ to bring the covid-19 situation under control, reported The Indian Express.