UNITED KINGDOM: Scotland to introduce hotel quarantine for all arrivals

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that all overseas travellers must undergo mandatory quarantine in hotels. The approach differs from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s targeted quarantine system, under which self-isolation in hotels managed by authorities is mandatory for arrivals from "high-risk" countries.
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SPAIN: Country's government introduces COVID-19 travel restrictions for arrivals from South Africa & Brazil

The country's government has followed the lead of several other European countries in introducing further travel restrictions for arrivals from Brazil and South Africa, in a bid to curb the spread of new strains of COVID-19; only a limited number of passenger flights from these destinations are now permitted to enter. Passengers in transit in Spanish airports are also now not permitted to leave the airport’s transit area. The updated measures came into effect from 09.00 (local time) on 3 February and will last for at least two weeks.
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BULGARIA: Country's government mandates COVID-19 testing for international arrivals

The country's government has announced that all international tourists travelling to Bulgaria will now have to present a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival, in an effort by the country to curb the spread of new COVID-19 variants; the negative result must have been obtained from a test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to arrival. In addition, other new entry requirements are in effect from 29 January to 30 April; Bulgarian citizens or legal residents crossing the border without COVID-19 test results must self-isolate for ten days. However, these new requirements do not apply to transit passengers, bus and truck drivers, crews of ships and aircraft.
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MYANMAR: Country's government suspends international flights until 28 February 2021

The country's government has suspended international commercial passenger flights until at least 28 February, in addition to closing all land borders. This follows the news that Myanmar's army have said it has seized power in the country, declaring a state of emergency for a year.
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SOUTH AFRICA: Country's government to ease some COVID-19 restrictions under adjusted alert level 'three'

The country's government has announced that South Africa will remain at adjusted COVID-19 alert level 'three', but with an easing of some restrictions. Among them, a nationwide curfew will now be in force only between 23.00 and 04.00 (local time), and many public areas and facilities will be re-opened. The sale and consumption of alcohol is now permitted between certain hours, and faith based gatherings are permitted subject to health protocols. Political gatherings, sports gatherings or social gatherings are however still prohibited. It remains compulsory for every person to wear a face mask in a public place.
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CANADA: Province of Ontario mandates COVID-19 testing from 1 February 2021

The government of the Canadian province of Ontario is mandating COVID-19 testing for all arriving international passengers, as part of what they call a six-point plan to battle COVID-19 variants. This new measure took effect as of 00.01 (local time) today, 1 February.
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FRENCH POLYNESIA: Tahiti and Bora Bora suspend tourism until further notice from 3 February 2021

The government of French Polynesia has announced that it has taken the decision to suspend entry to foreign nationals for the purposes of tourism until further notice from 3 February; the decision has been taken in order to protect the islands from new variants of COVID-19. Entry will only be permitted for a limited number of exemptions under the justification of ‘compelling reasons’, like a family or medical emergency.
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ICELAND: Country's government to relax entry restrictions for COVID-19 vaccinated arrivals from 1 May 2021

The country's government has announced that from 1 May, international passengers from the EU and approved other countries will be permitted to enter without restrictions providing that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19; provided that qualifying arrivals present an international certificate of vaccination, they will not be subject to any testing or quarantine measures. Prior to 1 May, certificate of vaccination does not exempt travellers from current travel restrictions.
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UNITED STATES: Country's government mandates face masks on flights and public transportation from 1 February 2021

The country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a mandate for travellers on aircraft and other forms of public transport to wear face masks from 1 February, in a bid to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
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PHILIPPINES: Country's government lifts entry suspension on passengers from over 30 countries

The country's government has announced that it has lifted a suspension on entry to passengers from over 30 countries and regions, including South Africa, allowing foreign nationals to enter the Philippines; arrivals are, however, subject to certain conditions. Foreign nationals will need to show proof of pre-booked accommodation for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel/facility; they will also be required to undergo COVID-19 RT-PCR testing on their sixth day of quarantine from date of arrival.
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ROMANIA: Country's government relaxes entry restrictions for COVID-19 vaccinated visitors

The country's government has announced that it has lifted travel restrictions for all EU passengers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19; previously, all incoming travellers were required to quarantine for 14 days. Arriving passengers are now required to wait a minimum of 10 days after their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before travelling to Romania.
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ARGENTINA: Country's government extends COVID-19 border closure until 28 February 2021

The country's government has announced that it has extended a current COVID-19 border closure until at least 28 February; under the restriction, almost all international passengers are restricted from entering Argentina. There are a limited number of exemptions, including for foreigners who are direct relatives of Argentines, nationals and foreign residents.
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AUSTRALIA: State government of Western Australia (WA) announces snap 5-day COVID-19 'lockdown'

The government of the Australian state of Western Australia (WA) has announced new COVID-19 'lockdown' measures, to be imposed with immediate effect from 18.00 (local time) on 31 January until 18.00 (local time) on 5 February; the measures are due to be enforced based on health advice following a positive COVID-19 case detected in a hotel quarantine worker. The 'lockdown' will affect the Perth metropolitan area as well as the Peel and South West regions.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Dubai announces tightening of COVID-19 entry restrictions for international tourists

The government of the UAE emirate of Dubai has changed its entry rules for foreign citizens; on arrival, tourists must present negative results of a COVID-19 PCR test, obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure. Arriving passengers, as before, must also install a special mobile application on their phone to determine their location and well-being while in-destination. Foreign citizens arriving in Dubai now also need to take a second test for COVID-19 and, until the results are known, must quarantine in a hotel or apartment. If the test is positive, then the passenger will be in self-isolation for at least ten days.
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AUSTRALIA: Country's state governments impose border restrictions with Western Australia (WA)

The governments of the Australian states of Queensland, Northern Territory (NT) and Victoria have announced that they have declared the city of Perth, and other parts of the state of Western Australia (WA) as COVID-19 'hotspots', imposing additional restrictions on arrivals from those states following the news that a hotel quarantine security guard tested positive for the virus.
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CZECH REPUBLIC: Country's government increases COVID-19 border restrictions from 30 January 2021

The country's government has announced that from 30 January, the Czech Republic's borders will be closed to all foreign nationals to combat the spread of COVID-19, with limited exemptions; allowance will be made for reasons including those visiting next of kin, receiving medical care, or participating in weddings or funerals. Truck drivers who supply necessary goods will be able to cross the border, however border guards will check incoming persons on a random basis.
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FRANCE: Country's government to increase COVID-19 travel restrictions from midnight on 30 January 2021

The country's government has announced that further COVID-19 travel restrictions will be enforced from midnight (local time) on 30 January; all international travel to and from France from outside of the EU will be suspended, unless there are exceptional circumstances. In addition, a COVID-19 PCR test is required if passengers arrive in France from another EU country, except for trans-border workers. Travel to or from France's overseas territories is not permitted, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
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GERMANY: Country's government announces updated COVID-19 travel restrictions

The country's government has announced updated COVID-19 entry restrictions for passengers from countries deemed as 'high-risk' for the virus due to the ongoing monitoring of variant strains; passengers from countries such as the UK, Brazil, Portugal and South Africa will now face increased restrictions in addition to existing testing and quarantine measures.
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UNITED KINGDOM: Government of Wales confirms extension of COVID-19 'lockdown' measures

The government of the devolved UK administration of Wales has confirmed that current COVID-19 'lockdown' measures will be extended for a further three weeks until at least 22 February. The nation entered its most restrictive 'tier four' measures - effectively a national lockdown with a stay-at-home order - a few days before Christmas amid high case rates. The Welsh government has now said that the situation is improving; however, officials have ruled that the measures need to be extended for now to allow the health service to recover.
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UNITED KINGDOM: Emirates and Etihad suspend UK flights from 29 January 2021

Middle-eastern airlines Emirates and Etihad have announced the immediate suspension of UK flights from 13.00 (GMT) today, 29 January; the measures have been taken in response to an update from the UK government in which it added the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to its 'red list' of countries. This means that people who have been in or transited through the UAE (plus Burundi and Rwanda who were also added yesterday) will be denied entry to the UK, with the exception of UK and Irish nationals, and third country nationals with residence in the UK. Emirates announced it would suspend all U.K. passenger flights from 1300 (GMT) today, when the UK measures take effect. Etihad said it would only suspend flights arriving in the UK, with those departing remaining unaffected.
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