AUSTRALIA: Victorian lockdown to ease

Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that the lockdown in Victoria will end at 11:59pm on Thursday, 21 October 2021. There will be no limit for Melbourne travel. However, unless you are authorised to enter regional Victoria, you cannot enter at this time.
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AUSTRALIA: QLD to open its borders by 17 December at the latest

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has released Queensland’s COVID Vaccination Plan. At 70% of Queensland’s eligible population fully vaccinated, expected on 19 November, anyone who has been in a declared domestic hotspot in the previous 14 days can travel into Queensland provided: They are fully vaccinated, arrive by air, have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours and undertake home quarantine for 14 days. Direct international arrivals into Queensland will have to complete 14 days quarantine in Government-nominated facility. International arrivals who arrive via another state or territory will have to quarantine in a Government-nominated facility until 14 days have passed since they arrived into Australia. At 80% of Queensland’s eligible population fully vaccinated, expected on 17 December, travellers from an interstate hotspot can arrive by road or air and they must be fully vaccinated, they must have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours, and no quarantine is required Direct international arrivals can undertake 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) home quarantine and subject to conditions set by Queensland Health provided they are: Fully vaccinated and have a negative COVID test in previous 72 hours. At 90% of Queenslanders fully vaccinated, there will be no entry restrictions or quarantine for vaccinated arrivals from interstate or overseas. Unvaccinated travellers will need to apply for a border pass, or enter within the international arrivals cap, and undertake up to 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) quarantine
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AUSTRALIA: QLD list hotspot status for Tasmania

Tasmania will no longer be declared as a COVID-19 hotspot as of 1:00am on Tuesday, 19 October 2021. Queenslanders will be able to travel from Tasmania into Queensland, without needing to quarantine after this time.
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AUSTRALIA: Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot to end in NSW

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has confirmed the Commonwealth hotspot declaration in New South Wales will cease at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 17 October 2021.
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AUSTRALIA: Tasmania lockdown to be lifted

Tasmania's lockdown will lift at 6:00pm tonight, Monday, 18 October 2021. Premier Peter Gutwein says there will be some additional restrictions. Masks still need to be worn until 6:00pm on Friday. Masks will apply indoors and outdoors for anyone 12 years and over unless in your own home or in your own vehicle driven either by yourself or with your immediate family. Importantly, if you visit someone else's home, you must wear a mask. If you leave the 12 LGAs which were under lockdown, or travel north out of that area, you must continue to wear your mask while you're in another part of the state. If you're somebody travelling into the 12 LGAs from another part of the state, you will need to wear a mask as well. Restrictions that currently apply for aged care and hospitals will remain in place until 6:00pm on Friday night.
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Sweden Removes Entry Ban for All Travellers From UAE & Bahrain

Starting from next Tuesday, October 19, travellers from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain can enter Sweden restriction-free, regardless of their vaccination status, the Swedish Ministry of Justice has announced. It also notes that in spite of the entry ban exemption, travellers from UAE and Bahrain are still required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry into Sweden.
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AUSTRALIA: NSW ends all quarantine for fully-vaccinated

From Monday, 01 November, the NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals who the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine, helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year. Further advice about testing requirements for arrivals will be provided in the coming days. Fully vaccinated travellers already in quarantine will also complete their quarantine requirements on Monday, 01 November, even if it is less than 14-days. Overseas arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will be capped at 210 people per week, and will be required to undergo mandatory 14-days hotel quarantine. Travel between Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast) and Regional NSW will also be permitted from Monday, 01 November, to allow people in the regions more time to receive their second vaccine.
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AUSTRALIA: Mildura lockdown extended for another week

The Andrews government's seven day lockdown of the regional city of Mildura has been extended for another seven days, after the area reported 34 new COVID cases in the 24 hours to Friday.
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AUSTRALIA: Victoria declares ACT as an orange zone

Victoria will downgrade the ACT from a red zone to an orange zone at midnight on Thursday, 14 October 2021. If you've been in an orange zone at any time since the zone started over the last 14 days in the last 14 days, you can get a permit at Service Victoria and enter Victoria, but you have to: isolate upon arrival, get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of arriving, and stay isolated until you get a negative result.
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AUSTRALIA: Mitchell Shire lockdown to end at midnight

It has been announced that the current lockdown in Mitchell Shire will end at midnight on Wednesday, 13 October 2021.
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UNITED STATES: Will open borders for fully vaccinated travelers from Canada and Mexico

Starting early November, US borders will be open for travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings.
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AUSTRALIA: QLD reinstates border bubble with six NSW LGAs

As of today (Wednesday, 13 October 2021), the following local government areas will be included in the QLD border zone: Bourke, Broken Hill, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, and The Far West. Residents in those areas will now be able to enter QLD, but only for strictly defined essential reasons. They must also have a valid border pass. But travel across the Queensland border for holidays, recreation or social visits is still not permitted for people in border zones.
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UNITED KINGDOM: South Africa is off the UK red list

UK Secretary of Transport, Grant Shapps, announced last night 7 October that only seven countries now remained on the red list, with Britons now able to travel to 47 more countries with no need to quarantine on their return to the UK. South Africa will be added to the list of countries and territories with approved proof of vaccination, effective 04h00 on 11 October, according to Tourism Update. The travel advisory states: “If you arrive in England before that date you must follow the rules for people who are not fully vaccinated. If you arrive after that, you can use a vaccine certificate to prove your vaccination status.”
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AUSTRALIA: Restrictions ease in QLD

COVID-19 restrictions in QLD will be relaxed from 4:00pm on Friday, 8 October 2021, after the state recorded no new cases of the virus. Pubs, clubs and cafes will be able to host double the number of patrons as under the existing restrictions and people can have 100 guests at their home. Visitors will again be allowed into hospitals and aged care facilities. The use of the check-in app and wearing of masks while entering venues will still be mandatory. Students and teachers will be required to wear masks into and out of the school room, but masks can be removed while seated.
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AUSTRALIA: Restrictions to ease in SA

The 70km border bubble with Victoria will be reinstated, except for the Victorian town of Portland. Mt Gambier, Wattle Range and Grant council regions were subjected to tougher restrictions on Monday, 04 October 2021, after a woman returning from Victoria tested positive to COVID-19. But now SA’s southeast will return to the same level of restrictions as the rest of the state. SA is currently under Level 1 restrictions with some additional restrictions.
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THAILAND: Thailand declares sandbox open to all vaccinated travellers

Thailand confirmed that vaccinated travellers from all countries were welcome into its ‘sandbox scheme’ on 1 October. The islands in the sandbox scheme are Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), Phang-Nga (Khao Lak and Ko Yao), and Krabi (Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai, and Railay Beach).
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UNITED KINGDOM: UK removes the traffic light system

The United Kingdom’s travel traffic light system was officially scrapped yesterday 4 October. According to a statement from the British Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, there will be no amber or green list to consult before travel. Only one red list and the rest of the World list. The new rules are: Red list: Pre-departure test, hotel quarantine for 10 days plus PCR test on days 2 and 8. Rest of the world: Day 2 test for fully vaccinated travellers. Pre-departure test, quarantine for 10 days, and test on days 2 and 8 for unvaccinated people.
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CHILE: Chile reopens for tourism

Now that Chile’s vaccination rate is at 88,2%, the country has reopened to fully vaccinated international travellers visiting for non-essential purposes. Travellers must complete a Travellers’ Affidavit prior to arrival, which includes providing information about medical and travel history, proof of medical insurance covering a minimum of US$30 000 (R449 000) for COVID-19 expenses, and contact information for their stay in Chile. They must also provide a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours prior to departure, and isolate for five days at either a hotel or private residence.
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AUSTRALIA: Vaccine mandate for FIFO workers in WA

FIFO and resource sector workers in Western Australia will be required to be vaccinated due to the “growing crisis” of Covid-19 on the east coast, says WA Premier Mark McGowan. From December 1, any FIFO and other workers in remote operations in the mining sector will be required to have their first COVID-19 vaccine, and be fully vaccinated by January 1 2022.
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