Australian authorities ban arrivals from India

On Saturday, Australian authorities declared that Australian citizens returning home from India could face up to five years in prison.

According to this decision, 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.

In an official statement, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt mentioned that the new restrictions and rules come into effect from May 3, and breaching the ban risks civil penalties and up to five years imprisonment.

Notably, the decision is part of strict measures to stop travelers to Australia from the world's second-most populous nation as it contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

According to WHO data, India's coronavirus death toll passed 200,000 this week, and cases are nearing 19 million as virulent new strains have combined with "super-spreader" events such as political rallies and religious festivals.

It’s worth mentioning that India now has the most coronavirus cases of any country, with nearly 6.6 million infections. Hospitals in cities including New Delhi and other Indian provenances are struggling to cope with the wave of patients.