U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday imposed new travel restrictions on India in light of the coronavirus epidemic, barring most non-U.S. citizens from entering the United States, Reuters.

The new restrictions, which take effect on Tuesday, May 4 at 12:01 am ET (0401 GMT), are on the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and were imposed because "the magnitude and scope of the coronavirus diseas pandemic" in India was "surging," the White House said.

Biden on Friday signed a proclamation implementing the restrictions, which were first reported by Reuters.

The proclamation said India "accounts for over one-third of new global cases" and added that "proactive measures are required to protect the nation's public health from travelers entering the United States" from India.

In January, Biden issued a similar ban on most non-U.S. citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa. He also reimposed an entry ban on nearly all non-U.S. travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders. China and Iran are also both covered by the policy.

The policy means most non-U.S. citizens who have been in one of the stated countries within the last 14 days are not eligible to travel to the United States. Permanent U.S. residents and family members and some other non-U.S. citizens, such as students, are exempted.

The decision to impose the latest travel restrictions came about quickly and was only reached in the last 24 hours, sources said.

The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

Second only to the United States in total infections, India has reported more than 300,000 new cases daily for nine days in a row, hitting another global record of 386,452 on Friday.

Manisha Bashu, right, and her mother press the chest of her father, who is suffering from breathing problem, after he felt unconsicous while receiving oxygen support for free at a Gurudwara (Sikh temple), amidst the spread of coronavirus disease in Ghaziabad, India, April 30, 2021.

A man tries to lift a woman who fainted after seeing the body of a relative who died from the coronavirus disease, at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, April 30, 2021.

US restricts most non-citizens coming from India