Italy has joined other countries by imposing restrictions on travel from India to avert the spread of a COVID-19 variant as the Asian nation struggles with a surge in infections, writes Reuters.

Italy’s Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Twitter he had signed an order barring foreign travelers who have been in India in the past 14 days from entering the country.

Italian residents will be allowed to return from India with a negative test result at their departure and one at their arrival and then have to go into quarantine, the minister said.

Those already in Italy and who travelled from India in the past 14 days were requested to undergo a swab.