On December 22, 2020, Mumbai, India, after India cancelled all flights from the United Kingdom due to fears of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), passengers wearing protective masks arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji. Waiting for departure after Maharaj International Airport. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

Reuters, New Delhi, November 26-After relaxing some travel restrictions earlier this year, India issued a recommendation to all states requiring strict testing and screening of international travelers from South Africa and other "at risk" countries. Because of fear of the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus month.

The Federal Ministry of Health stated that the report on the new variant B.1.1.529 mutation has "serious public health implications."

Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to various countries: “This variant is reported to have a large number of mutations, so in view of the recent relaxation of visa restrictions and the opening of international travel, the country’s public Health has had a serious impact." Thursday night.

A senior government source said that although some major Asian countries are eager to strengthen border controls and restrict passengers, India has not yet issued a notice. read more

"The Ministry of Health has not fully studied this yet," the source told Reuters, declining to be named in accordance with the policy.

The Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on whether India will ban foreign travelers.

On Friday, the British Health and Security Agency stated that the spike protein of this new variant is completely different from the spike protein in the original coronavirus on which the COVID-19 vaccine is based. It may reduce the effectiveness of existing vaccines.

Britain has banned flights from six African countries and required British travelers returning from these destinations to be quarantined.

India is the second most severely affected country in the world by COVID-19. The increase in new cases this week is the smallest in a year and a half, due to the increase in vaccinations and antibodies in most of its population from previous infections.

On Friday, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 34.46 million. Since September, the number of daily cases in India has been halved, and the country reported 10,549 new cases on Friday.

Earlier this month, India identified 10 countries "at risk", including Europe, the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, and New Zealand. And has opened borders to 99 countries/regions.

The Indian stock market plummeted by more than 2% on Friday as investors fleeing risky assets due to panic over the impact of the new variant. The decline was consistent with the sharp decline in the Asian market. read more

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