Journalists, certain exchange visitors and students are also potentially covered by the national interest exception, the State Department said in a media note issued on Friday. This includes qualified applicants who have been present in India, Brazil, China, Iran, or South Africa,” the statement said. The order says India accounts for over a third of the new cases of the virus and that they are increasing at a “rapid rate”. The order says India has seen circulating a variant called B.1.617, among others, such as the U.K. variant ( B.1.1.7) and South African variant (B.1.351). “India posts will make every attempt to continue to honour approved emergency visa appointments,” the spokesperson said.

Source: The Hindu April 30, 2021 19:15 UTC