Thailand on Monday widened its travel ban to international arrivals from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal in a bid to prevent the Indian variant of Covid-19 from entering the country.

However, the Royal Thai Embassy in Pakistan said that holders of Thai visas (except tourist visas) may travel to Thailand before May 15.

The travel ban comes after a pregnant 42-year-old Thai national tested positive for the Indian variant in state quarantine on arrival back from Pakistan on April 24. The woman and her youngest son are the first cases of the variant recorded in Thailand, said the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Monday.

The temporary travel ban was thus extended from India to its northern neighbours.

Thai nationals and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the ban.

Copyright: The Nation/Asia News Network