New Zealand bans travellers from India due to surge in COVID-19 cases

New Zealand on Thursday said it will temporarily suspend entry for all travelers arriving from India.

The announcement comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive COVID cases at its border on Thursday, of which 17 were detected in arrivals from India.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the suspension will begin on Sunday April 11 and will remain in place until April 28.

Ardern said it is the first time New Zealand has suspended travel for its own citizens attempting to return home.

The travel suspension comes as India reported a record 126,789 new COVID cases in a 24-hour period on Thursday, topping the previous record of 115,736 set Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday received his second vaccine shot and urged eligible Indians to get vaccinated to stem the surge in cases.

India’s recent surge in cases is concentrated in the western Maharashtra state, home to Mumbai.