The Netherlands is imposing a flight ban on passenger flights from India. The Ministry of Infrastructure announced this on Sunday. The flight ban takes effect on Monday at 6 p.m. and is valid until at least 1 May. Flights with cargo and medical personnel are still allowed.
RIVM had advised the cabinet to introduce the ban in an urgent recommendation. “There is uncertainty about the Indian changes and the cabinet wants to prevent the Netherlands from becoming a preferred option for passengers from India,” the ministry said.
It is therefore essential that travelers from India adhere to the corona measures, including quarantine. “Compliance with the quarantine by travelers in general is insufficient and the bill with mandatory quarantine has not yet entered into force. In that case, in the opinion of the RIVM, a total travel or flight ban is in place,” said the ministry .
About seven more flights from India landed at Dutch airports every week. According to the ministry, most of the occupants are transfer passengers. Dutch people who cannot return from India are advised to find safe accommodation.
India is currently facing a heavy wave of a new variant of the corona virus, which is putting the country’s healthcare system under serious pressure. For example, there is a serious shortage of oxygen for patients who need to be ventilated. For the fourth day in a row, India had the largest number of infections in the world on Sunday. Nearly 350,000 new infections and 2,767 new corona deaths were reported.
De Jonge saw no reason for a flying ban before
Outgoing Minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Health) said last week that he saw no reason for a ban on flights from India. There is already an EU-wide entry ban for residents of that country and a double test requirement for Europeans traveling to the Netherlands from India. “That is a very effective double lock,” said the outgoing minister.
De Jonge pointed out on Thursday that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet designated the Indian mutation as a dangerous variant. If that still happened and the RIVM advises to go a step further, he would. “I have no problem with that.”
The Netherlands is allocating extra money for corona aid
On Sunday it was also announced that the Netherlands is making extra money to help the Red Cross in India with the provision of corona aid. 2.5 million euros will be made available for corona aid worldwide via the Dutch and International Red Crosses, of which 1 million euros will go to India, according to outgoing Minister Sigrid Kaag of Development Cooperation.
Kaag calls the rapid increase in the number of corona infections in India “heartbreaking to see. We sympathize with the government and people of the country and in this way we want to help alleviate the need somewhat.”
Several countries have already pledged aid to India in recent days. The European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States have all expressed their willingness to help India. Resources, including raw materials for corona vaccines, are sent from the United States. Other countries, including the United Kingdom and France, are supporting the country with medical devices and oxygen supplies.
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