Washington, May 26 (AP) A ban on foreign travellers arriving in the US from Brazil due to the surge in coronavirus cases there will now take effect late Tuesday, two days earlier than previously announced.

The ban had been set to go into effect late Thursday. The White House announced the change Monday without explanation.

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Brazil is second to the US in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University, and has seen cases surge in recent days.

The White House cited Brazil's status as Latin America's hardest-hit country on Sunday when it announced the ban, saying it would prevent additional infections in the US.

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Foreign nationals who have been to Brazil in the two weeks before they attempt to enter the US are to be turned back under the ban.

The ban does not apply to US citizens or legal permanent residents, and their spouses, parents or children. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)