The list of countries temporarily banning arrivals from or with recent travel to India is growing as the Asian country sees a surging number of COVID-19 cases and a new virus variant.

Biden bans most travel to U.S. from India

The U.S. on Friday imposed new travel restrictions on India, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering the country.

The new restrictions, which will take effect on May 4, are based on the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and were imposed because “the magnitude and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic” in India was “surging,” the White House said.

The proclamation said India “accounts for over one-third of new global cases” and added that “proactive measures are required to protect the nation’s public health from travelers entering the United States” from India.

The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment on the ban.

Second only to the United States in total infections, India has reported more than 300,000 new cases daily for nine days in a row, hitting another global record of 386,452 on Friday.

Total deaths have surpassed 200,000 and cases are nearing 19 million – nearly 8 million since February alone – as virulent new strains have combined with “super-spreader” events such as political rallies and religious festivals.

Uganda suspends all flights, passengers from India

Uganda on Friday said it will not allow passengers and passenger flights originating from India starting Saturday and until further notice. The African country has already identified the COVID-19 variant first detected in India.

“All travelers who may have been in India or traveled through India in the last 14 days regardless of the route taken shall not be allowed into Uganda,” the country’s Minister of Health Ruth Aceng told reporters.

The minister said all travelers arriving from India before the suspension date regardless of the route of travel will be expected to be in possession of a negative PCR COVID-19 test certificate, which is digitally verifiable and conducted within 120 hours from the time of sample removal.

Australia bans arrivals from India

Australian residents and citizens who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail terms, government officials said on Friday.

The restrictions come into effect from May 3 and breaching the ban risks civil penalties and up to five years behind bars, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement, adding that the government will reconsider the restrictions on May 15.

Australia, which has no community transmissions, on Tuesday introduced a temporary suspension of direct flights from India to prevent more virulent COVID-19 variants entering the country. However, some Australians returned via Doha.

“The Government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level,” Hunt said.

Other countries have imposed similar travel restrictions on India, such as the UK, Germany, Italy and Singapore, while Canada and New Zealand have suspended all commercial travel with India.

(With input from Xinhua, Reuters)