Americans advised to avoid traveling to South Asia

THE US has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Maldives due to the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in the region.

In a series of travel advisories on Thursday, the authorities also urged Americans to reconsider travel to China and Nepal; exercise increased caution while travelling to Sri Lanka and exercise normal travel precaution to Bhutan, which has been given Level 1, the safest level for travelling overseas.

India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives have been put in Level 4, which means asking Americans not to travel to these countries.

‘Do not travel to India due to Covid-19, crime, and terrorism,' the State Department said in its latest travel advisory on India, days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a similar warning for India.

The CDC issued a level four travel health notice for India due to Covid-19, indicating a very high level of Covid-19 in the country.

‘Do not travel to the Maldives due to Covid-19. Exercise increased caution in the Maldives due to terrorism,' the State Department said in its travel advisory for the country.

‘Do not travel to Pakistan due to Covid-19. Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. Some areas have increased risk,' the State Department said. Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Pakistan, it added.