SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa moves to adjusted alert level two

South Africa will move to adjusted alert level two from Monday 13 September 2021. The following measures will be implemented: A curfew will be in place between 11h00 pm and 04h00 am. All gatherings are permitted however only a minimum of 250 people indoors and 500 people outdoors will be allowed. Where a venue does not permit these numbers, 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 22h00 pm in light of curfew. The sale of alcohol at retail outlets for off-site consumption is only permitted Monday to Friday, between 10h00 am and 18h00 pm. The sale of alcohol for on-site consumption is permitted as per licensing conditions and up to 22h00pm. 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. A person entering the Republic must be subjected to screening on arrival at the point of entry, including the completion of a traveller health questionnaire. A person who, during screening, is found to have had exposure to COVID-19 or is presenting with any signs and symptoms of COVID-19, must be subjected to a medical examination which may include testing and isolation. A person who is not in possession of a valid negative COVID-19 PCR rest will be subject to antigen testing at the point of entry and may be subject to quarantine at an approved facility at his or her own cost. South Africans are permitted to travel freely internationally as mentioned during the ministerial brief on 30 September 2020, however will be required to check the entry requirements of the country they wish to travel to. With the emergence of COVID-19 variants, some countries have decided to restrict entry from South Africa for a period of time. Some entry restrictions and border closures remain in effect globally. Any returning South African citizens and residents will be subject to entry regulations and protocols and may be required to enter quarantine.
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AUSTRALIA: Ease of restrictions for QLD-NSW border

The QLD Government has reinstated the border bubble with NSW. From 1:00am on Monday, 13 September 2021, students and essential workers will be able to travel from the 12 NSW LGAs, where restrictions have eased, into QLD. Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Moree Plains, Gwydir, Clarence Valley, Inverell, Glen Innes, Severn Shire, Tenterfield, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Lismore are the 12 LGAs.
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AUSTRALIA: Parts of regional NSW to come out of lockdown

Parts of regional NSW currently deemed low risk and which have seen zero COVID cases for at least 14 days will emerge from lockdown at 12:01am on Saturday, 11 September 2021. Lockdown remains in place in the following LGAs: Bathurst, Bega, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Dubbo, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn, Mulwarre, Kiama, Lake Macquarie, Lithgow, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, Newcastle, Orange, Parkes, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Upper Hunter, Walgett, Wingecarribee.
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Saudi lifts travel ban on UAE, Argentina and South Africa

Saudi Arabia removed the UAE, Argentina, and South Africa from its entry-banned country list and re-allowed citizens to travel to the three countries starting September 8, state TV reported on Tuesday. The Ministry of Interior said the decision was based on the Kingdom's evaluation of the current Covid-19 situation, state media reported. The Saudi ministry has, however, stressed the importance of adhering to all the precautionary measures, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.
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Bahrain eases travel restrictions for Indians

Bahrain has now eased travel restrictions for Indians by withdrawing it from the red list. The Embassy of India in Bahrain in a tweet informed that Indian nationals with a valid visa are eligible to enter Bahrain with effect from September 3, 2021 subject to conditions.
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ISRAEL: Israel reopens to small groups of tourists

Israel will allow small foreign tour groups from selected countries to visit from 19 September under a pilot program to kick-start tourism. Tour groups of 5 – 30 people from countries on Israel's green, yellow, and orange lists will be allowed to enter the country, provided all group members have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Foreign tourists must show proof they have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months, or a booster shot. They must also show a negative PCR test, taken up to 72 hours before arrival, and undergo a serological test once they land at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.
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MALAWI: Malawi’s borders reopen without restrictions

Malawi’s borders have reopened to international travellers with both travel restrictions and quarantine requirements lifted. All travellers must present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result done not more than 72 hours before arrival in Malawi. COVID-19 prevention and control regulations and rules need to be followed whilst staying in Malawi.
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AUSTRALIA: Lockdown to end in regional Victoria

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed regional Victoria will be released from lockdown from 11.59pm on Thursday, 09 September 2021, but some restrictions will remain. Regional Victorians will be allowed to leave their homes for any reason, and there will be no distance limits. The authorised worker permits will no longer apply but offices will only be permitted 25 per cent of staff onsite, with a maximum of 10 workers. Schools will reopen for grades prep to year two and year 12 students. All other grades will continue with remote learning. Up to 20 guests will be allowed at funerals and 10 at weddings plus those officiating the service. The Greater Shepparton region will be excluded.
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CANADA: Canada reopens to fully vaccinated South Africans

Fully vaccinated South Africans can now visit Canada for non-essential purposes without needing to quarantine. After a tentative reopening plan, the updated regulations were finalised and came into effect today 7 September. Children between the ages of 12 and 17 need to be vaccinated to avoid quarantine. However, vaccines in South Africa have not yet been approved for anyone under the age of 18, so teenagers will still need to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.
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AUSTRALIA: WA reclassifies Victoria as a high risk area

Western Australia is reclassifying Victoria as a high risk COVID-19 state due to the ongoing outbreak there. WA Health Minister Roger Cook said it would take effect from 12:01am on Monday, 06 September 2021. It means anyone entering WA from Victoria or who has travelled through Victoria in the previous 14 days will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure and proof they have had at least one dose of a vaccine.
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AUSTRALIA: Restrictions to remain in Victoria, Melbourne lockdown continues

The majority of Victoria's restrictions will stay in place until 70 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced. The Premier said the state could no longer "hold out hope" that case numbers would fall and must instead focus on suppressing the outbreak's growth while racing to reach higher vaccination coverage. "We will not see these case numbers go down," he said. "They are going to go up. The question is, by how many and how fast." Mr Andrews confirmed the shift in approach meant Melburnians would remain under some form of lockdown for weeks.
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AUSTRALIA: SA lifts restrictions on QLD/NT travellers

South Australia will lift all restrictions on people travelling from Katherine in the Northern Territory, and the 11 LGAs in South East Queensland. People arriving from those regions had been required to undertake COVID tests and self-isolate until returning a negative result. From today (Tuesday, 31 August 2021) there will be no requirement for testing.
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AUSTRALIA: ACT lockdown extended

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has announced that the lockdown in the ACT has been extended until midnight on Friday, 17 September 2021. The lockdown was originally scheduled to end on Thursday, 02 September 2021.
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Travel update for NZ's Covid-19 lockdown

The New Zealand Government announcement last night that all of New Zealand, south of the Auckland border will move to Alert Level 3 from 11.59pm, 31 August. Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4 for a further 2 weeks and Northland will remain at Alert Level 4 until at least 11.59pm, 2 September 2021.
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NEW ZEALAND: Auckland lockdown extended

New Zealand is extending alert level 4 restrictions in Auckland for at least another two weeks but lowering the alert level for other parts of the country. The number of new coronavirus cases in New Zealand reported today (Monday, 30 August 2021) fell significantly for the first time since the outbreak was detected nearly two weeks ago. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that New Zealand south of Auckland would move to alert level 3 on Tuesday, 31 August 2021, with Northland expected to join them at level 3 on Thursday, 02 September 2021.
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NEW ZEALAND: Lockdown extended until Tuesday

New Zealand is extending its nationwide lockdown until Tuesday as its COVID outbreak worsens with 70 new cases. In a 1:00pm press conference, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that all regions below the Auckland boundary would move to a lower alert level – alert level 3 – on August 31.
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AUSTRALIA: Regional NSW lockdown extended

It has been announced that the lockdown currently in effect in Regional NSW has been extended. The lockdown is now planned to lift on Friday, 10 September 2021.
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AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND: WA amends border restrictions with QLD, SA, NZ

Western Australia is easing border controls with South Australia — it's being reclassified from low risk to very low risk, meaning no quarantine is required. The hard border with Queensland is coming down, it's being reclassified from medium to low risk. There are still some restrictions in place. A hard border is being put up with New Zealand due to the outbreak there, and it is now designated medium risk.
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Extension of Level 4 Lockdown for New Zealand

Unsurprisingly, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday announced an extension to level 4 lockdown nationwide with Auckland set to remain in Level 4 until 11.59pm on Tuesday the 31st of August and the rest of New Zealand until 11.59pm on Friday the 27th of August.
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NEW ZEALAND: Lockdown extended in New Zealand

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that the country's nationwide COVID lockdown until at least midnight on Friday, 27 August 2021. It comes after the country recorded 35 new cases in the last day, bringing the total of this current outbreak to 107. Auckland will remain in lockdown until at least Tuesday, 31 August 2021 - that's where the outbreak began.
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