Canada bans passenger flights from India, Pakistan for 30 days

OTTAWA - Canada suspended all passenger flights from India and Pakistan on Thursday for 30 days, Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra announced, citing increased cases of COVID-19 detected in travelers arriving from these countries.

"Given the higher number of cases of COVID-19 detected in air passengers arriving in Canada from India and Pakistan... I am suspending all commercial and private passenger flights arriving in Canada from Indian and Pakistan for 30 days," Alghabra told a news conference.

The measure, which does not apply to cargo flights, will be effective at 11:30 pm Eastern Time Thursday (0330 GMT Friday). -- Agence France-Presse