Denmark’s authorities will ban entry for arrivals from India after the latter has registered an increased number of COVID-19 infections.

The ban was imposed on April 29 and will remain effective until further notice, according to the announcement of Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The sharp increase in COVID-19 infections in India led the authorities of many countries to close their doors for arrivals from India in a bid to prevent another wave of the deadly virus, worldwidecollege.in reports.

India is currently experiencing a rapid upsurge in cases of COVID-19 infection, including the new variant B.1.617, while the country’s healthcare system is facing difficulties ensuring the treatment of those affected by the disease.

Denmark’s decision means that the same ministry advises against all travel, including travel for business purposes to India.

“The activation of the safety valve will mean that the entry restrictions will be tightened for foreigners with permanent residence in India so that only some particularly recognizable purposes allow entry into Denmark. This also applies concerning transit,” the statement reads.

Danish travellers currently in India are not obliged to travel home immediately. However, it is recommended they contact the airline or travel company regarding the return options.

Denmark’s citizens seeking to enter the country will be required to test and follow ten-day quarantine rules upon their arrival.

India has registered a total of 18,762,976 infection cases since the beginning of the pandemic and 208,330 deaths. Over 15,384,410 persons have fully recovered from the disease, while there are 3,170,220 active cases.

Such figures have led authorities in several countries worldwide to temporarily impose stricter travel restrictions for travellers from India, such as Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Belgium authorities banned travel from high-risk countries such as India, South Africa, and Brazil to prevent another upsurge in the number of infections.

The Netherlands’ government announced that it decided to freeze travel from India until at least May 1 due to the current situation in India. However, flights carrying medical personnel and cargo flights will not be included in the ban.

Germany and Italy confirmed that they would not permit arrivals from India to enter their countries to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Authorities in Italy stressed that all persons who have been in India in the past 14 days would be banned from entering Italy. Such a decision was confirmed by the country’s government.