December: After 20 people returning from the UK were discovered to have been infected from the mutant covid variant, India decided to extend the flight ban from the UK till January 7. Earlier, India had suspended the flights till 31 December but following the new covid strain arrival in the country, it decided on the development. This new covid-19 variant is 20% more infectious than the coronavirus.
Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to Twitter to spread the news among the citizens. His tweet mentioned that both the flights to and from the UK have been banned till 7th of January 2021. He also mentioned that the strictly regulated resumptions would be taking place, the information of which would be announced shortly. Here have a look at the tweet:
Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021.
Thereafter strictly regulated resumption will take place for which details will be announced shortly.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) December 30, 2020
Also read: Indian govt allows travellers to take connecting flights from few countries
Foreseeing the same Puri earlier also mentioned that they the temporary flight ban might be extended further beyond January 31st. The Union Health Ministry has ordered that all the international travellers who arrived in India in the last 14 days before the travel ban to the UK and who were tested positive of coronavirus will be subjected to genome sequencing. At the same time, the experts have claimed that the covid-19 vaccine will be affected by the new covid strain as well.
The tourism industry has been affected widely due to coronavirus. However, the government is still carrying out travel programs under air bubble arrangement s which they have made with 23 countries. Along with this Vande Bharat mission is still in action helping people move to and from India.
