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The country's government has announced that rapid COVID-19 antigen tests will be rolled out at all South Africa’s ports of entry with immediate effect. Any passengers who arrive without an existing negative PCR test result will be screened for symptoms and sent for testing at a cost of R150-170 per person. Results of antigen tests are typically available within 15 minutes, and anyone testing positive must quarantine at a designated facility. However, any passengers who are 'red-flagged' for showing symptoms of COVID-19 may still be quarantined, even with a negative antigen test result on arrival.

The country’s government is reportedly planning to remove a ban on overseas travel to China and 11 other countries from next month, according to a domestic newspaper source today, 8 October. The 11 other countries and regions may include Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia; however, unnecessary and non-urgent visits to these destinations would still not be encouraged.

The airline has announced that from 23 October, subject to government approval, it will begin one flight per week from Helsinki to Nanjing, China; the service is set to continue until at least 21 March 2021.

The country's government will put Lyon and Lille on maximum COVID-19 alert, according to French radio reports today, 7 October, paving the way for new restrictions to curb the spread of the virus in the two cities. Elsewhere, Paris and Marseille are already on maximum alert; this has resulted in bars in the capital having to close for two weeks, and restaurants having to set up new sanitary protocols to stay open.

The hotel brand is expanding its remote working initiatives even further, now by not only offering special overnight rates in rooms optimised as workspaces, but by also offering day rates under a ‘WorkSpace by Hilton’ label. The pilot program is being rolled out at properties across the U.S. and UK.

The country’s government yesterday, 7 October, went ahead with plans to make face masks mandatory in outdoor settings nationwide in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Several Italian regions including Lazio however, around the capital Rome, had already done so.

From 12 October, any passengers arriving in Latvia must complete and submit an electronic form no earlier than 48 hours before entry. Further information is available on the Latvian government’s COVID-19 website.

Air India announced that it will start operating additional flights from New Delhi to Sydney with limited seats between 10-14 October, amid the Indian central government's 'Unlock 5' phase.

The government of Cuba have announced that the popular resort town of Varadero will be the latest area of the country to re-open for tourism, officially permitting foreign tourists on 15 October. Local authorities have accordingly created a ‘tourism corridor’ that will restrict tourists to particular areas, reducing the chances of community transmission. The corridor will run from K Street to Punta Hicacos within Varadero, with limited tours and excursions available within the designated zone. Passengers landing at Varadero Airport will be tested for COVID-19, after which they will quarantine at their hotel for a maximum of 24 hours while awaiting test results. If the test is negative, they can proceed with their trip.

The country’s government has said that it will tighten COVID-19 restrictions at the end of this week, limiting groups to four people in any setting, private or public. The government has also introduced a traffic light system of high, medium and low-risk regions, with entry restrictions assigned accordingly.

The airline has streamlined its flight schedule for the winter season in response to reduced customer demand, however has planned to increase frequencies from Spring 2021. From 25 October, 2020 to 31 March 2021, Finnair will serve 45 domestic and European destinations with reduced weekly frequencies on almost all routes.

The country’s government has announced that from midnight (local time) today, 7 October, arrivals to Romania from the UK must quarantine for 14 days. However, travellers not showing symptoms after 8 days may be released early following a negative COVID-19 test result. In addition, passengers planning to stay in Romania for 3 days or less are exempt from quarantine, as long as they provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result obtained a maximum of 48 hours before entering the country.

the country’s government placed the Paris region on maximum COVID-19 alert level today, 5 October, invoking increased restrictions which will last for at least two weeks. Under the alert level, bars will be closed and restaurants will face strict conditions; indoor sporting facilities will be open only to children under 18 and most events in public settings will be banned.

The country’s prime minister has announced that COVID-19 restrictions in the city of Auckland will be lifted from 23.59 (local time) on 7 October, when it will move to the reduced status of alert level one.

The group has announced that all three of its brands - Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises - will now extend the suspension of operations until at least 30 November.

The country's government has announced that from 08.00 (local time) on 5 October 2020, the new 'Managed Isolation Allocation System' will come in to force for all arrivals to New Zealand. The system is an online portal where passengers must obtain a voucher prior to travel that confirms their place in a managed isolation facility. There will be an initial one-month grace period before doing so becomes a legal requirement for all arrivals from from 00.01 (local time) on 3 November 2020.

Peru resumed international flights on 5 October; passengers must present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure, when both leaving or entering the country. If they do not have this negative test result they will not be allowed to board, and must also present a sworn declaration confirming that they have been self-isolating between the time the test was performed and the time of travel.

Reports from a tabloid newspaper in Scotland suggest that the devolved UK nation’s government is due to shortly place the country under a full, two-week mini COVID-19 lockdown from 9 October. The country’s first minister has today though said that although new measures will be announced from 7 October, a full lockdown is not planned.

The country’s government has said that border restrictions on non-essential travel with the U.S., which have most recently rolled over until at least 21 October, will remain in place for some time to come, until the COVID-19 pandemic in both nations is much less serious. From 8 October, Canada will though allow the entry of certain extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, including those in an exclusive dating relationship of at least one year.

The Dubai-based airline has introduced self-check-in and bag drop kiosks at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. The service is now available to customers travelling to all destinations except the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong due to additional requirements imposed by the respective countries. The 16 new self-service bag drop machines and eight self-service kiosks complement the existing desks manned by Emirates check-in agents and aim to reduce waiting time for customers during peak periods. More self-services facilities are planned to be added in the coming months.