Covid19: UAE extends entry ban from India for another 10 days

The UAE has extended the flight suspension from India until May 14 amidst a steep hike in covid infections, according to a circular tweeted by UAE's flag carrier Emirates.

Earlier, the Arab state had barred entry for ten days from April 24 to May 5, which has now been extended for another ten days. The travel suspension includes all passengers from India or those who made transit through the country 14 days before booking flight tickets or boarding.

UAE citizens, diplomats and golden residence holders were excluded from the ban, given that they present a negative Covid-19 PCR certificate taken within 48 hours before boarding and must adhere to already imposed covid-related measures. The measures include 10-days quarantine and a mandatory PCR test on the first day, fourth and eighth day of entering the country.

All cargo flights between the two countries stay unaffected.

As of Thursday, India's health ministry reported 379,257 new infections and 3,645 covid-related deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 204,832. India's total caseload now exceeds 18 million, making it the world's second-worst covid hit country, after the US.