DENMARK: Country to ease COVID-19 restrictions with the use of COVID-19 'passports'

The country's government has announced it will begin to ease COVID-19 restrictions from April 2021 by letting hairdressers, spas and other services re-open, while restaurants and cinemas will be allowed to follow suit in May, contingent on the use of COVID-19 'passports'; these documents will show whether the holder has been vaccinated, has previously been infected or has taken a test within the last 72 hours.
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NORWAY: Country's government announces increased COVID-19 measures

The government of Norway has announced updated national COVID-19 measures aimed at containing recent spikes in infections, and has also postponed the introduction of a plan to formally re-open society on a local level. The government had originally planned to present a plan in late March for the gradual unwinding of its COVID-19 restrictions. Among the updated measures, anyone returning from a holiday abroad will be forced to undergo 10 days of quarantine at a designated hotel; Norwegians should also begin keeping a two-metre distance from anyone not living in their own household - double the current recommendation - and have no more than two guests at home.
Norway
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IRELAND: Country's government extends travel 'ban' from South America and South Africa

The country's government has announced the extension of a ban on visa-free travel from South Africa, as well as all South American countries, for an indefinite period. Visa-free travel from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay along with South Africa has been banned since 27 January due to the spread of COVID-19 variants.
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Ireland
Paraguay
Peru
South Africa
Suriname
Uruguay
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GERMANY: Country's government extends COVID-19 'lockdown' until mid-April 2021

The country's government has confirmed that its COVID-19 'lockdown' measures will be extended by another month until at least 18 April, in addition to a number of new restrictions being imposed; the amendment has been made in an effort to curb a surge of COVID-19 infections thought to be driven by new variants of the virus. Amid concern over the rise in Germans traveling abroad on holidays, authorities also agreed on a blanket requirement for air travellers to be tested for COVID-19 before boarding a flight to Germany.
Germany
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NEW ZEALAND: One-way quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Queensland resumes today

Effective Monday 22 March, one-way quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Queensland will resume from Auckland-Brisbane, with the first quarantine-free flight departing today.
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FRANCE: Country's government imposes COVID-19 'lockdown' on 16 regions of the country

The country's prime minister has announced that 16 regions of France, including Paris, have entered into a new COVID-19 'lockdown'. The measures will be in place for at least four weeks and will be less restrictive than those previously imposed last March and November. Among other restrictions, during this time outdoor activities will be permitted to go ahead only within a 10km radius of a person's home; non-essential shops, not including book shops, will be required to close.
France
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ICELAND: Country re-opens borders to COVID-19 vaccinated visitors from all countries

The country's government has announced from 18 March it has re-opened its borders to COVID-19 vaccinated passengers from all countries, allowing entry without quarantine or testing required. This new relaxation of measures also applies to passengers who can provide valid documentation of prior infection. Passengers can provide evidence of vaccination or previous recovery either in paper or digital format.
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GERMANY: Country extends COVID-19 border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria

The government of Germany has announced an extension of controls along its borders to the Czech Republic and Austria’s Tyrol region, in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19 mutations. Previously, the controls were reinstated on 14 February, following the introduction of a stricter lockdown in the Czech Republic.
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Germany
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Abu Dhabi Airport to offer free COVID-19 PCR testing on arrival

Abu Dhabi Airports has launched rapid, free COVID-19 PCR testing for all arrivals, alongside partners Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare. Passengers will not be allowed to leave the airport until the test has been completed – with authorities hoping to provide results in around 90 mins. A new laboratory has the capacity to test more than 20,000 travellers and staff per day.
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AUSTRALIA: Federal Government announces flight suspension with Papua New Guinea from 17 March 2021

The country's prime minister has announced that all charter and passenger flights will be suspended between Papua New Guinea and Australia, as medical professionals warn COVID-19 cases are increasing in the country; the suspension starts from 23.59 (local time) on 17 March.
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Papua New Guinea
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UNITED KINGDOM: UK government to update England's hotel quarantine 'red list' from 19 March 2021

The UK’s Department of Transport has announced a number of changes to be made to England’s ‘red list’ from 04.00 (GMT) on Friday 19 March 2021. From this date, visitors who have departed from or transited through Ethiopia, Somalia, Oman and Qatar in the previous 10 days will be refused entry to England. Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residence rights (including long-term visa holders) will be permitted to enter; however, they must stay in a government-approved facility for 10 days. It has also been announced however that Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) and Mauritius will be removed from England’s red list from 04.00 (GMT) on Friday 19 March. This means that passengers arriving to England from these destinations will no longer be required to quarantine in a government-approved facility; however, they must adhere to self-isolation requirements at home and undergo COVID-19 testing on days two and eight.
Ethiopia
Mauritius
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Portugal
Somalia
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ITALY: Country's government to close shops and schools amid COVID-19 infection spike

The country's government has announced that shops, restaurants and schools will be closed across most of Italy from 15 March, following warnings of a 'new wave' of the COVID-19 outbreak. For three days over Easter from 3-5 April 2021, there will also be a total shutdown whereby residents will be required to stay at home except for work, health or other essential reasons.
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NEW ZEALAND: Country's government announces shift in COVID-19 alert levels from midday on 12 March 2021

The country's government has announced that from midday today, 12 March, the city of Auckland will join the rest of the country at COVID-19 alert level 'one'.
New Zealand
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JAPAN: Country's government caps passenger capacity for international airlines

The country's government has announced further restrictions to be placed upon airlines and international arrivals; a limit of no more than 100 passengers per flight for international airlines will now be enforced. The change is to ensure sufficient quarantine facilities for inbound travellers. Due to the emergence of COVID-19 variants, all passengers must spend the first three days of quarantine at a government facility, before proceeding to undertake the remainder of the two-week quarantine in a hotel or other booked accommodation.
Japan
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ISRAEL: Country enters talks with United Arab Emirates to establish quarantine-free travel corridors

The governments of the United Arab Emirates and Israel have reportedly entered formal talks to establish a quarantine-free travel corridor between the two countries to boost bilateral exchange, following a normalisation deal. The travel corridor, which will apply to passengers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will help facilitate travel for commercial, tourism and official purposes.
Middle East
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UNITED KINGDOM: COVID-19 testing provider Collinson launches in-terminal tests for arrivals to airports in England

Collinson is the first private provider to offer the mandatory COVID-19 tests currently required for all arrivals into the UK. Travellers can now opt to take the first of their two required RT-PCR tests as soon as they arrive at London Heathrow, Manchester, London Stansted, London City, Luton or East Midlands airports.
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FRANCE: Country's government to ease COVID-19 restrictions on international travel

The country's foreign ministry announced today, 11 March, that France will ease some COVID-19 restrictions on international travel outside of Europe; passengers arriving to or from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Britain and Singapore will no longer need a compelling reason to travel. All other restrictions, such as a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test result obtained no more than 72 hours before travel, will remain in place. An official decree with further, confirmed information is due to be published on 12 March.
Australia
France
Japan
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New Zealand
Singapore
South Korea
United Kingdom
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THAILAND: Country's government launches a COVID-19 'yacht quarantine' plan to boost tourism

The country's government has announced a new plan as part of efforts to boost tourism, allowing visitors to undergo a COVID-19 quarantine period on board yachts located in the waters around Phuket, in Thailand's gulf. Members of the Royal Thai Navy will monitor and track the boats, and once visitors complete their 14-day quarantine they'll be permitted to moor at a dock in Phuket and enter the island. Qualifying visitors must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, and will also have their health and location monitored via a smart wristband.
Thailand
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CHINA: Country launches COVID-19 vaccination certificates for citizens embarking on cross-border travel

The country's government has announced the launch of a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travels. In a statement issued on China's foreign ministry website, it's stated that the certificates hold details about the holder’s COVID-19 vaccination information and test results; however, it's not immediately clear with which countries China is forming an agreement with for the use of these certificates. Domestically, China has not yet announced any relaxation of quarantine restrictions for people arriving in China who are vaccinated against COVID-19.
Mainland China
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SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Airline to begin testing IATA's 'Travel Pass' health verification app from 15 March 2021

The airline has announced that from 15 March it will begin testing the International Air Transport Association's 'Travel Pass' mobile health verification app on flights from Singapore to London; from this date, passengers on that route using Apple iOS-enabled phones will be able to download the app and create a digital identification with their photo and passport information. They also can submit flight information and book a COVID-19 test at one of seven participating clinics in Singapore, after which their test results can be viewed directly in the app. Check-in staff at Singapore's Changi airport can then verify their status via the app, which will speed up the check-in process.
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