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South Africans and citizens of nine other African countries will be able to visit Seychelles as tourists from today, 19 October, according to the latest official Seychelles Travel tourism travel advisory published on 16 October. The list of category one countries has been updated to include Botswana, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Category one permitted countries are considered low and medium risk.

The two regions have announced today, 15 October, that they will establish a travel bubble to re-connect international travel between them; passengers will though require negative COVID-19 test results and will be required to travel on dedicated flights. The launch date is due to be announced in the coming weeks.

The country's government has announced that it will open its borders to residents of the U.S. stated of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from November, with more states to follow soon. Initially, all incoming visitors must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours of traveling, and upload their results to the new Digital Immigration Card within 48 hours prior to travel. In addition, residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut must present a valid state-issued ID as proof of residence.

Direct flights between Israel and the UAE, slated to begin in October after a landmark normalisation deal, are to be postponed until January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The air link, announced after the two states signed the deal at the White House last month, aims to open up tourism and new business ventures despite the COVID-19 slowdown. But a second lockdown in Israel, which now has one of the world's highest infection rates per capita, has put plans on hold.

The country's president has announced a new night-time curfew from 21.00 to 06.00 (local time) in Paris and eight other cities to try to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19. It will come into effect from 17 October and last for at least four weeks; a public health emergency has also been declared. The curfew will apply to Paris and its suburbs as well as Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Saint-Etienne, Rouen, Toulouse, Grenoble and Montpellier. The measures will stop people visiting restaurants and private homes, and they will need a valid reason to be outside their homes during the hours of curfew. Only 'essential' trips will be permitted.

The country's government is imposing a three-week partial COVID-19 lockdown shutting schools, bars and clubs as the Czech Republic and other European countries struggle to contain a sharp rise in cases of the virus; restaurants will be closed and public consumption of alcohol is temporarily banned. Schools, bars and clubs will be closed until 3 November while restaurants will be restricted to deliveries and takeaways, until 20.00 (local time) each day. Masks, already being worn in shops and on public transport, will also have to be worn at tram stops and on train platforms. The maximum number of people gathering in a group, whether indoors or outside, will be six.

The government of India has said that it expects international flights to and from the country be fully operational by the first quarter of 2021, most recently extending a current international suspension until at least 31 October 2020. While domestic services have been allowed to resume, international passenger flights in and out of India have been suspended since 23 March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country's prime minister has announced a partial COVID-19 lockdown following a surge in cases of the virus. The new measures come into effect on 14 October and will see all bars, restaurants and cafes closed, and the sale of alcohol banned after 20.00 (local time). In addition, the wearing of face masks will be mandatory in all indoor spaces.

The government of Namibia has re-opened four additional land and sea border posts with immediate effect; Katima Mulilo, Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer border posts, and Walvis Bay harbour are open for travellers, subject to applicable health regulations. Until now during the COVID-19 pandemic, Namibia has only allowed tourists into the country through Hosea Kutako International Airport.

The European Union has introduced a traffic light system highlighting the COVID-19 risk across its 27 member nations; there are now four indications of the pandemic’s severity ranging from 'green' when the notification rate is less than 25 and the test positivity rate is less than 4%, through to 'red' if the notification rate is 50 or more and the test positivity rate is 4% or more. Member nations may also be classified as 'grey' if sufficient information is not available. As well as the EU members, data is also provided for Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, but not the UK. On the basis of this new system, member nations will then decide whether they introduce certain restrictions, such as quarantine or tests, on travellers coming from other areas; there will be no restrictions, such as quarantine or testing, on travellers coming from ‘green’ regions.

The country has restarted international flights for the first time since they were suspended in March due to the pandemic. Services have now resumed between Peru and Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay; Peru does, however, remain under a state of emergency with strict measures in place until at least the end of October. Flights to Europe are tipped to potentially be added to the schedule soon.

The UK prime minister yesterday, 12 October, announced a raft of updated COVID-19 restrictions in the form of a new three-tier classification system for all regions across the country. The lockdowns will include shutting pubs and bars and banning wedding receptions in areas placed in the “very high” alert level from 14 October; other alert levels in the new system are “medium” and “high”. So far, just one region in northern England is classified in the highest category.

The country’s government has now expanded a recent change in COVID-19 testing requirements, either prior to travel or on arrival, to anyone who has come from or stayed in Belgium, France, the UK, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Czech Republic and Spain in the previous 14 days. Passengers must present evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result on arrival obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure; alternatively, a free test may be taken on arrival, but passengers must self-isolate until the results are received, unless their arrival airport has rapid testing available.

A new round of COVID-19 social restrictions are due to be announced by the country’s government today, 13 October, including the possible closure of many businesses and an evening ban on alcohol sales. Team sports will also be halted for many, and the use of public transport will be limited to essential travel only; the measures are expected to stay in place for two weeks.

The government of Ukraine has declared the UK a ‘red zone’, meaning that UK arrivals are now required to undergo 14 days of self-isolation proven by a tracking app, or quarantine for the same period in a government-approved facility.

The governments of the two countries have announced that, in a bid to kick start essential business travel between them, Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to open a travel corridor. The arrangements, known as the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), will officially come into effect on 26 October. Travellers must use the green lane by air between Singapore Changi Airport and Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, or by sea between Tanah Merah Terminal and Batam Centre Ferry Terminal. Indonesians travelling to Singapore must apply in advance for a Safe Travel Pass. All travellers in both directions must be sponsored by a business or government entity, and must have negative pre-departure and post-arrival COVID-19 swab tests.

The country's government has announced revised COVID-19 pre-testing requirements for international visitors effective from today, 10 October. Arrivals may now choose between presenting a negative COVID-19 Antigen test result, or a negative PCR test result, either of which should be obtained from a sample supplied a maximum of 10 days prior to arrival Testing must be performed by an accredited lab and results must be presented to the air carrier prior to boarding a flight to Jamaica as well as upon arrival. All visitors will also undergo screening on arrival including a brief interview with a health officer. Business travellers will receive a swab test at the airport, and must remain in quarantine until results are available. The current process will be in effect until 31 October.

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has published updated information on new COVID-19 testing requirements for UK travellers arriving in Italy. Passengers must present evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result on arrival obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure; alternatively, a free test may be taken on arrival, but passengers must self-isolate until the results are received, unless their arrival airport has rapid testing available.

The government of Portugal has from today, 9 October, replaced a physical passenger pre-departure form with a digital version, which must be completed online prior to travel by all passengers arriving in mainland Portugal (Faro, Lisbon and Porto). Passengers are required to carry a copy of their completion receipt, either printed or on a mobile device, to be presented at the boarding gate for verification. Madeira and the Azores will continue with their own respective pre-departure forms, which remain unchanged.

The country’s government has announced that St Kitts and Nevis will re-open its borders to international visitors from 31 October; entry protocols will include providing evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to arrival, and the need to take a second test upon arrival. Even if negative, passengers must then quarantine for seven days at one of four approved hotels and face a final, third test before being allowed to roam freely.