There are mixed feelings about Australia’s cutting of flights from India as the country faces a COVID-19 crisis spiralling out of control.
India on Friday reported the world's highest daily tally of infections for the second day running, .
New deaths also jumped to a record 2,263, the health ministry said, while officials across northern and western India warned most hospitals were full and running out of oxygen.
On Thursday, the federal government announced , and people who have been there in the past two weeks would have to test negative for the virus within three days of boarding a flight to Australia.
Dr Yadu Singh, president of the Federation of Indian Associations of NSW, said he supported the decision to par back flights.
“India has a major COVID problem,” he said.
“Australia’s first priority is to look after Australians, their safety, their health, their security from diseases. So I'm actually quite supportive of the announcement.”
He said he was pleased a blanket ban on flights from India was not put in place.
Federation of Indian Associations of NSW president, Dr Yadu Singh Source: SBS News
“I'm happy that they have not disturbed the arrivals altogether,” he said.
“We need to be pragmatic. Now in an ideal world, I would have said bring everybody who stuck in India to Australia. But unfortunately, we are not in an ideal world.
“This is the best situation.”
But for those desperate to come to Australia, the cutting of flights is a cruel blow.
Pavneet Kaur and her 14-month-old son have been separated from her husband Gurminder for more than a year and are booked on a flight to Australia in a few weeks.
She said she had been excited to join him in Melbourne and hopes the new flight rules means she can still travel next month.
"[Not being able to come] would make me very sad because we have been waiting for one year," she said.
Pavneet Kaur and her son have flights booked to Australia next month Source: Supplied
"It is very difficult [being separated] because [my husband] has missed so many things [with his son]: the cuteness, the naughtiness ... how he laughs, how he crawls."
On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was comfortable with the flight measures announced but didn't rule out increased restrictions if states and territories requested them.
At the moment, direct flights from India are only arriving in Sydney and Darwin.
The Northern Territory recorded 13 new cases in arrivals from India on Friday. Of the 38 active cases in the NT, 35 are people who flew in from India. In New South Wales, there were 18 new hotel quarantine infections but authorities have not disclosed their origin.
The percentage of Australian quarantine cases from India has jumped from 10 to 40 per cent.
Dr Singh urged Indians in Australia to “do their duty” and reach out to their networks in India to tell them to do everything possible to stop the spread of the virus.
“I also hope the government of India, both federal and state governments, they really get their act together and do everything to reduce the transmission,” he said.
“Right now, things are very bad all over India.”
With AAP.
