Search alerts

The government of Jamaica has said that it has 're-opened' its borders to UK-based passengers; the decision comes after flights to the Caribbean island were banned for several months in the wake of skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in Europe.

The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that from today, 3 May, COVID-19 vaccinated passengers from countries designated as 'green' will not be required to quarantine on arrival; these passengers must however take a PCR test once on arrival, and again on day six of their stay. Vaccinated travellers arriving from other countries not classified as 'green' must take a PCR test on arrival, quarantine for five days, and take another PCR test on day four of their stay. Non-vaccinated travellers must take a PCR test on arrival, quarantine for 10 days and take another PCR test on day eight.

The government of Taiwan has become the latest to 'ban' arrivals from India today, 3 May, as the latter struggles to deal with a huge surge in COVID-19 infections; except for Taiwanese citizens, anyone who has been in India in the 14 days prior to arrival will be denied entry, while returning citizens face 14 days in centralised COVID-19 quarantine facilities.

The government of Abu Dhabi has revised the rules regarding mandatory COVID-19 testing and home quarantine requirements for vaccinated arrivals who are either United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizens or residents of the emirate; effective from 3 May, COVID-19 vaccinated passengers arriving from ‘green list’ countries must take a PCR test on arrival and on day six, without the need to quarantine. Vaccinated passengers arriving from other countries must take a PCR test on arrival, then quarantine for five days, and take another PCR test on day four of their arrival to the UAE.

The government of the Maldives has announced the re-opening of its borders to all COVID-19 vaccinated passengers from 3 May; however, it is now a mandatory requirement for all tourists (including those who have completed the prescribed dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine) to present a negative result for a PCR test for COVID-19 on arrival. The sample for the PCR test must be taken not more than 96 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure from the first port of embarkation en route to the Maldives. Additionally, everyone traveling to and from the Maldives must submit a self-declarative health declaration within 24 hours before their departure; the test result needs to be submitted through the 'IMUGA' portal.

The country's government has announce a loosening of current, domestic COVID-19 restrictions; travel in and out of the capital of Nairobi is now permitted, and the city’s curfew has been shortened to reflect the 22.00 to 04.00 (local time) curfew in effect in the rest of the country. In addition, bars across the country may now operate within restricted hours, restaurants are allowed to open and sporting and religious events are authorised with caps on attendance. However, political gatherings such as rallies remain prohibited. The ease in restrictions follows a decrease in COVID-19 cases.

The government of Portugal has confirmed that it is extending current COVID-19 flight restrictions that prevent non-essential travel from countries including Brazil with high incidence rates of the virus, and also has added India to the list due to the rapid rise in infections there. The curbs on air travel will now be enforced until at least 16 May.

The country's government has announced that current COVID-19 'lockdown' measures including a night-time curfew will now remain in place until 18 May; the announcement followed the news of virus infections remaining high over the past week as hospitals struggle to cope with large numbers of patients. Previously, the country's government had said they were looking at easing restrictions on 28 April by lifting the curfew and allowing bars and restaurants to welcome guests in outdoor spaces.

The U.S. president has imposed new travel restrictions on India in light of recent surges in cases of COVID-19, preventing most non-U.S. citizens from entering the United States; the new restrictions take effect on 4 May at 00.01 Eastern Time (ET).

The country's government has announced that it is extending face mask requirements across all domestic transportation networks through 13 September, to address the spread of COVID-19. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements that took effect on 1 February were to set to expire on 11 May; they cover workers and passengers at airports, on board commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses and on commuter bus and rail systems.

The country's government has said that it will press ahead with plans to re-open all retail stores, personal services and non-residential construction in May, with hotels, restaurants and bars to follow sooner than expected in early June. The government committed a month ago to re-opening all shops for the first time this year in May and hotels in June if it could avoid a fourth wave of COVID-19 and speed up its vaccine programme - criteria that it has met. Under the plan, hotels will open their doors again on 2 June, with restaurants and pubs allowed to serve guests outdoors from 7 June.

The government of the Bahamas has updated its COVID-19 entry restrictions for U.S. passengers from 1 May, meaning that those arriving with proof of full vaccination against the virus will be exempt from testing requirements. However, un-vaccinated passengers must upload a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of five days prior to arrival in the Bahamas.

The major of New York has said that the city aims to 'fully re-open' and remove all COVID-19 restrictions by 1 July following more than a year of closures and capacity restrictions. Earlier this week it was also announced that a current curfew within the city, forcing restaurants to end their bar and food services by midnight, will end on 17 May for outdoor dining areas and 31 May for indoors; capacity limits on a number of venue types, both in the city and the wider state of New York, will also start to increase from 15 May.

The country's government has outlined a plan for the loosening of current COVID-19 restrictions to permit international tourists to enter France on 9 June, provided they hold a 'sanitary pass' with proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative PCR test result. The news came as part of the outlining of a four-step plan to re-open the country and revive its economy.

The government of the British island territory has announced a phased program of tightened entry and on-island COVID-19 restrictions to be enforced throughout June in order to curb a recent spike in cases of the virus. Effective 6 June, all visitors aged 10 years and over must submit proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of three days prior to arrival; currently, the window applies to a test result obtained at least five days prior to arrival. Test results must then be entered as part of the online travel authorisation process.

The country's government said yesterday, 28 April, that it is considering plans to allow public events with up to 3,000 spectators from July, although such events would be restricted to attendees who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, can prove they've recovered from the illness or test negative. Elsewhere, Switzerland this month further eased other COVID-19 restrictions, allowing restaurants to re-open outdoor terraces and sports events to take place with much more limited audiences; cinemas and concert venues can also re-admit limited numbers of guests.

The government of New Zealand has confirmed that quarantine-free travel between the country and the region of Western Australia will begin again at 12 midday (local time) on 28 April, for passengers who are not close contacts of known COVID-19 cases. The same arrangement had previously been paused after the announcement of a three-day lockdown in Perth, Western Australia which ended at 00.01 (local time) on 27 April.

The UK transport secretary has confirmed that an NHS mobile app will from 17 May be used to allow Britons to demonstrate whether they have had a COVID-19 vaccination, or tested negative for the virus, before travelling internationally; the country is hoping to re-open international borders to leisure travel from this date, with confirmation expected in the coming days. Officials are planning to launch a ‘traffic light’ system, with safe countries rated ‘green’, while travel to ‘red’ countries will be prohibited.

London Luton Airport has announced that in preparation for the expected restart of UK international travel from 17 May, it has opened a new in-terminal COVID-19 testing facility with its partner, Collinson. The expansion adds to the existing drive-through facility located in the mid-term car park, which launched in December. Across both facilities, the full range of UK government-approved COVID-19 test options will be on offer.

The country's president has announced that people will be required to stay mostly at home under a nationwide 'full lockdown' beginning on 29 April and lasting until at least 17 May; the measures are being introduced in order to curb a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths. Among the restrictions will be the requirement for official approval for all inter-city travel, the closing of all schools, caps on public transport capacity, and permission to leave home to be limited to the reasons of essential shopping and urgent medical treatment only.