Experts Warn Against Travel to Five Countries Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases
Mumbai, 2nd June 2025: Health and tourism experts are advising travelers to avoid visiting China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States as COVID-19 cases surge globally, driven by the rapid spread of the NB.1.8.1 subvariant of JN.1. This strain is being reported in high numbers across several Asian countries, particularly China.
In India, the situation is also showing signs of concern. Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi have reported a noticeable rise in COVID-19 infections. Maharashtra alone reported 65 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total active cases in the state to 814. Mumbai accounts for 463 of these, with one death recorded, raising the total fatalities to eight.
The majority of the new cases came from major urban centers—22 from Mumbai, 25 from Pune Municipal Corporation, nine from Thane, six from Pimpri-Chinchwad, two from Kolhapur, and one from Nagpur.
Given the rising trend, experts are urging citizens to delay non-essential international travel, particularly to the five flagged countries. If travel is unavoidable, strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols—wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and frequent hand hygiene—is strongly recommended.
Tourism professionals emphasize the need for personal responsibility in helping to curb the spread of the virus. “Avoiding travel to high-risk countries is a simple yet effective way to prevent a broader outbreak,” one expert stated.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and advise the public to stay updated with official health advisories. For now, postponing travel plans may be the safest approach until the international situation stabilizes.
