Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the island nation will be suspending all direct passenger flights from India until May 15. The ban is in the wake of deteriorating Covid-19 situation in India.
With the ban Australia joins the league of the UK, Hong Kong, Canada, Italy, Maldives, Bangladesh and Singapore that have already banned the entry of travellers from India. The US and Germany have issued advisories.
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The Morrison government had reduced the number of commercial flights by 30 per cent last week and travel was limited to essential purposes only. Speculations were rife that Australia was considering a flight ban to India amid an alarming rise of COVID cases and break down of the health care infrastructure in the country.
There was also rising demand from various political quarters in Australia to ban travellers from India, claiming hotel quarantine cannot stop outbreaks.
At the same time, Australia is likely to extend an arm of help to its Quad partner and send oxygen, ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the country battered by the pandemic.
