The Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning has banned all passengers coming out from India effective today. The directive was made in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 in India and the emergence of the Indian Variant of COVID-19. As per the directive, no person is permitted to board an aircraft or ship bound for Papua New Guinea from any foreign point of departure or airport if that person has been in the Republic of India in the past 21 days prior to the day the vessel or aircraft departs on its journey to PNG. Any person that fails to adhere to this direction shall be deemed to have committed an offence under the National Pandemic Act 2020. Also, a person or organisation that allows a person to board an aircraft bound for PNG in breach of this direction shall be deemed to have committed an offence under the National Pandemic Act 2020. This directive will remain in force during the period of the declaration of the pandemic or as varied or revoked by the Controller.