CHILE: Chile reopens for tourism

Now that Chile’s vaccination rate is at 88,2%, the country has reopened to fully vaccinated international travellers visiting for non-essential purposes. Travellers must complete a Travellers’ Affidavit prior to arrival, which includes providing information about medical and travel history, proof of medical insurance covering a minimum of US$30 000 (R449 000) for COVID-19 expenses, and contact information for their stay in Chile. They must also provide a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours prior to departure, and isolate for five days at either a hotel or private residence.
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AUSTRALIA: Next steps to reopen to the world

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that international borders will reopen in November 2021 for states that have reached 80 per cent vaccination rates, starting with New South Wales. Fully vaccinated Australians and permanent residents arriving to NSW will be able to home quarantine for a week, instead of paying thousands to quarantine at a hotel for a fortnight, pending the success of the state's home quarantine trial. Travellers must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine to home quarantine, unless they are under 12 or medically exempt. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has advised that the Chinese-made Sinovac and the Indian-made Covishield vaccines would be considered "recognised vaccines" when determining whether an incoming international traveller has been appropriately vaccinated. The recognition of those vaccines will remove a significant barrier for international students seeking to study in Australia. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and the Janssen vaccine are already recognised in Australia.
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AUSTRALIA: Lockdown extension for 17 NSW regional LGAs

Lockdown orders have been extended in several regional areas of NSW, and a seven-day lockdown will be introduced in the Snowy Monaro LGA in the state’s south from 3:00pm on Thursday, 30 September 2021. For the following LGAs lockdown orders will be extended until Monday, 11 October 2021: Bathurst Regional, Bourke, Central Coast, City of Cessnock, Dubbo Regional, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Kiama, City of Lake Macquarie, City of Lithgow, City of Maitland, City of Newcastle, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, City of Shellharbour, City of Shoalhaven, and Wingecarribee.
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SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa moves to adjusted alert level one

South Africa will move to adjusted alert level one from Friday 1 October 2021. All COVID-19 health and safety protocols must be followed, including observance of guidelines for social distancing, sanitation, hygiene and use of appropriate personal protective equipment, like face masks. The following measures will be implemented: A curfew will be in place between midnight and 04h00 am. Should your travel to/from an airport fall outside of curfew hours, you will need to produce your ticket or travel itinerary to show your reason for travel. Gatherings are permitted however only a maximum of 750 people indoors and 2000 people outdoors will be allowed. Where a venue does not permit these numbers with appropriate social distancing, only 50% of the capacity of the venue will be permitted. Non-essential establishments such as restaurants, taverns, bars and fitness centers may open however will need to close by 23h00 pm in light of curfew. The sale of alcohol at retail outlets for off-site consumption is now permitted as per normal. The sale of alcohol for on-site consumption is permitted as per licensing conditions and up to 23h00pm. All international travellers arriving in South Africa must produce a negative PCR test, to be presented on arrival and not older than 72 hours from the date of departure from the country of origin.
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AUSTRALIA: Stage two restrictions return in QLD

From 4:00pm on Thursday, 30 September 2021, restrictions will be tightened in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Townsville and Palm Island. Public and private gatherings are limited to 30 people, while aged care, correctional centres, hospitals and disability service provides will close to visitors. Cafes and restaurants will return to 1 person per 4 metres square indoors and 1 person per 2 metres square outdoors. You must be seated in hospitality venues when you're eating and drinking, and dancing is not permitted. Capacity at stadiums and events will decrease to 75 per cent, including Sunday's NRL grand final. Funerals and weddings are restricted to 100 people. A maximum of 20 people can dance at weddings.
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Emirates to restart flights to London Gatwick in December

Emirates will restart flights to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) from December 10, responding to the easing of international travel restrictions and an upsurge in passenger demand for winter sun. The airline will resume services to its second London gateway with a daily flight operated by a B777 aircraft, across First, Business and Economy class. By the end of December, the airline will offer 84 weekly flights to the UK, making it easier for UK customers to access Emirates' growing global network of over 120 destinations - close to 90 percent of Emirates' pre-pandemic network, and for international travellers to visit the UK.
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AUSTRALIA: SA increases restrictions on QLD

Overnight, South Australia announced an increase in restrictions for people who have visited Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay Regional Council or Logan City in the last 14 days due to the growing outbreak. They will now be required to get a COVID-19 test on their first, fifth and 13th day after arriving in the state. Travellers from these four areas will also not be permitted in high-risk settings, such as aged care or at events with more than 100 people. This equates to Level 3 restrictions.
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AUSTRALIA: Port Macquarie and Muswellbrook placed back into lockdown

The NSW local government areas of Port Macquarie and Muswellbrook will be going into lockdown for seven days. The lockdown starts at 6:00pm on Tuesday, 28 September 2021. Stay-at-home orders will apply to anyone who has been in the Port Macquarie region since September 17 or Muswellbrook since 22 September. However, Kempsey will come out of lockdown midnight tonight (28 September) as scheduled.
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AUSTRALIA: Byron and Tweed to exit lockdown as scheduled

The Byron and Tweed Shire lockdowns will be lifted as scheduled on Wednesday, 28 September 2021.
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AUSTRALIA: Tweed and Byron back in the QLD-NSW

Residents from the Tweed and Bryon regions will be able to travel into Queensland for essential purposes like getting food, doing work that can’t be done from home and for medical care. But they can't cross over into Queensland for holidays, going to a sport event or to catch up friends and family. This will come into effect from 1:00am on Wednesday, 29 September 2021.
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AUSTRALIA: Key dates in NSW's freedom plan

NSW has revealed a three-stage plan towards reopening, with key dates to look forward to in October and December. Eased coronavirus rules will be made available to those who have had two vaccine shots once that cohort makes up 70 per cent of the state’s population, and more freedoms will become available at 80 per cent. At 80 per cent, the new activities that will be made available for those who have had two coronavirus jabs will include having 10 visitors at home, playing community sports, and standing up and drinking at pubs. There will be a third reopening stage in December – and those who haven’t been vaccinated will have to wait until then to take advantage of some of the freedoms.
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AUSTRALIA: Canberrans given clear pathway out of lockdown

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has released the territory's roadmap for reopening. Mr Barr said "subject to the public health risk remaining relatively stable over the next two weeks, lockdown will end on October 14 at 11:59pm." Mr Barr said two households visitors would be allowed from October 1, while outdoor bootcamps would recommence. Lockdown would be lifted as planned in mid-October, Mr Barr said, which would see much of the ACT economy brought out of hibernation with limited capacities, increased numbers for indoor and outdoor gatherings and a gradual return to workplaces.
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AUSTRALIA: Yass Valley leaves lockdown, Cowra's extended

Stay-at-home orders for the Yass Valley in New South Wales have been lifted as scheduled. However, Cowra, in the state's central west, will remain in lockdown due to the risk of ongoing transmission, with lockdown now scheduled to end at midnight on 05 October 2021.
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AUSTRALIA: Victoria to be classified as extreme risk by WA

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has announced that the state of Victoria will be moved to an 'extreme risk' category from 12:01am on Wednesday, 29th of September 2021. Travellers currently in Victoria with an approved G2G pass have been urged to return to WA before this date.
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AUSTRALIA: Geelong and Surf Coast to exit lockdown

The Surf Coast LGA and the city of Greater Geelong will exit lockdown at 11:59pm on Sunday, 26 September 2021.
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AUSTRALIA: Fully vaxxed Melburnians can return from Sydney

Double vaccinated Victorians from Sydney will be able to return to Victoria from Thursday, September 30. "So Victorians in an extreme risk zone, which is basically Sydney at this time, will be eligible to return home to Victoria if they are double vaccinated," said Premier Daniel Andrews. He says those people will have to have a negative test, 72 hours prior to leaving New South Wales. Those people will have to do 14 days of quarantine but that quarantine can be done at their home.
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AUSTRALIA: Lockdowns to end in some NSW LGAs

Lockdown will lift in the Gilgandra and Brewarrina LGAs from midnight on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, and the Narromine LGA from Saturday, provided Narromine has no cases or sewage detections before then. Lockdown will also lift in Albury and Lismore at midnight on Wednesday, 22 September 2021.
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UNITED STATES: Border restrictions extended with Canada and Mexico

Border restrictions on nonessential travel have been extended again, this time through Oct. 21, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Monday. The restrictions were first implemented in March 2020 and have since been extended on a monthly basis.
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AUSTRALIA: Ballarat lockdown to end

The Ballarat lockdown will end at midnight on Wednesday, 22 September 2021. The region will align with all other regional areas not in lockdown. Masks must still be worn indoors and outdoors and no one can come to your home to visit. Point Lonsdale in greater Geelong will also be under the same rules as the borough of Queenscliff.
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United States: Eases travel restrictions on fully vaccinated foreign visitors

The United States to ease travel restrictions on all fully vaccinated foreign visitors starting in November, the White House said Monday, relaxing a patchwork of bans that had begun to cause fury in Europe and replacing them with more uniform requirements for inbound international air passengers.
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