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The government of South Africa has announced that the visa-free travel status of citizens from a number of countries and territories has been reinstated. The countries include: South Korea, Spain, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA, UK, France, Portugal and Iran - however, this visa-free status does not alter other current COVID-19 regulations. Immigration officers will be required to assess the movement and place of origin of the traveller and not the country of origin of the airline concerned. Transit travellers through South Africa by air will be allowed to connect to their destinations, subject to them complying with applicable health protocols but need not produce a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within the previous 72 hours.

The country’s government has announced that it will re-open its borders to international visitors from all countries from 12 October; a number of regulations will though be in place, including the requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained a maximum of 48 hours prior to travel.

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.

The airline has announced that following guidance from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), new requirements will apply to all international passengers travelling to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 5 October. Passengers will now be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result obtained a maximum of 96 hours before departure. The result should be uploaded on a dedicated app/web portal; passengers must download the 'PASS TRACK' app from Google Play or Apple store and enter their personal details. Only disabled passengers, those less than 12 years old or high level international delegates are exempt from this policy.

The New York City Mayor has today, 4 October, announced that from 7 October he is moving to close non-essential businesses as well as schools in nine neighbourhoods identified as COVID-19 clusters.

The country's government has announced that it is re-opening its borders for tourism from 5 October with updated COVID-19 entry requirements for all incoming passengers. All arriving passengers must submit contact information before boarding a flight to Pakistan and must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 96 hours prior to arrival. However, the following countries are exempt from this test requirement: Australia, Malaysia, Belarus, Myanmar, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, China, Poland, Cuba, Rwanda, El Salvador, S. Korea, Estonia, Saudi Arabia, Fiji, Senegal, Finland, Serbia, Germany, Singapore, Greece, Slovakia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Japan, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Kenya, Togo, Latvia, Turkey, Lithuania, Uganda, Malawi, Uruguay. Travellers are not required to quarantine upon arrival in Pakistan.

The Australian state of Queensland (QLD) will re-open its border to all arrivals from New South Wales (NSW) on 1 November, provided NSW goes 28 days without any 'mystery' COVID-19 cases, according to the new roadmap released by the QLD Government. Visitors and returning travellers from NSW can enter QLD with a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass without having to complete mandatory quarantine, provided community transmission is deemed as being under control.

New Zealanders who do not live in a government-designated COVID-19 hotspot will be able to visit the Australian states of New South Wales (NSW) and the Northern Territory (NT) from 16 October without having to quarantine. New Zealanders who travel to these Australian states would still need to have the appropriate managed isolation booking upon return, spend two weeks in managed isolation and pay the applicable fee which applies to anyone who left New Zealand after 11 August. At this stage the arrangement is one-way, with Australians not yet able to travel to New Zealand under a similar arrangement.

The government of Hungary has announced that its borders will remain closed for tourism for another 30 days, until at least 1 November. Although the earliest the nation's borders will now re-open will be on 1 November, if the COVID-19 situation does not show any signs of improving, the closure could be extended for a third time.

The country's government has confirmed that effective today, 1 October, Uzbekistan's border is re-open and international flights and trains will resume gradually; Uzbekistani citizens and permanent residents are also permitted to enter and exit the country. Travellers arriving from countries categorised as ‘green’, and who have been in these countries for the previous 10 days, are not subject to quarantine. Travellers arriving from countries categorised as ‘yellow', and who have been in these countries for the previous 10 days, must present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to travel, and are subject to home quarantine for 14 days. Finally, travellers arriving from, or who have visited in the previous 10 days, countries categorised as ‘red’ are subject to mandatory government quarantine for 14 days.

The country's government has announced that international travel for business and leisure purposes will resume as of today, 1 October 2020, with restrictions in place. Travel for leisure purposes from high risk countries is not permitted. Only high skill visa holders, investors in the economy and diplomats will be allowed entry into South Africa from high risk countries with the necessary approvals in place. Travellers from countries deemed medium and low risk will only be allowed into the country subject to certain visa requirements. Passengers from the African continent will be permitted entry for business and leisure purposes, however will need to comply with other entry requirements. South Africans are permitted to depart the country and travel freely, however will be required to check the entry requirements of the country they wish to travel to. Any returning South African citizen will be subject to entry regulations and protocols and may be required to enter quarantine.

The airline has become the latest to offer complimentary COVID-19 cover for their passengers' medical and quarantine related expenses. The policy is available to all passengers with tickets issued from 1 October onwards and provides 24/7 COVID-19 assistance, COVID-19 emergency medical assistance up to 120,000 EUROS, quarantine accommodation costs up to 100 EURO per day, and repatriation costs.

The country’s government announced on Twitter yesterday, 30 September, that it will declare a state of emergency from 5 October, allowing it to implement tighter public restrictions including curbs on public gatherings and events. The state of emergency will initially be set to last for at least 30 days.

Spain-based boutique hotel brand Room Mate is introducing rapid COVID-19 antigen tests for all guests free of charge from the end of October. Guests will be able to take a test on arrival at reception, with results available in 15 minutes, and must re-take a test every 3-5 days if staying for a longer period. The brand operates around 25 properties across Europe and the U.S.

The country’s government has officially lifted its blanket warning for citizens against travel to all countries outside of the European Union this morning, 1 October, although it is speculated that it will change little for most travellers, who still face a raft of other restrictions currently in place. Germany has also, though, warned against travel to an additional number of destinations including Wales and Northern Ireland; passengers from Wales and Northern Ireland must now quarantine on arrival for 14 days, although in most federal German states they may be released early following a negative COVID-19 test.

The government of Singapore has announced that it will open its borders to Australian citizens from 8 October, however will continue to exclude arrivals from the Australian state of Victoria from entering the country. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) released a statement on Wednesday saying that, from midday on Thursday (14.00 AEST), 1 October, Australian citizens could apply for an Air Travel Pass for entry to the country on or after 8 October. Applicants must have remained in Australia for the previous 14 days before entry and undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival at Singapore's Changi Airport. Only after obtaining a negative result will they be allowed to freely roam Singapore.

The government of the Bahamas is still set to re-open the country's tourism sector on 15 October however, all incoming visitors will now be required ‘Vacation in Place’ for 14 days or the duration of their stay, depending on which is shorter, until 31 October. From 1 November, the mandatory 'Vacation in Place' requirement will be then removed for all visitors, returning citizens and residents, enabling everyone to move around and explore the destination beyond the confines of their hotel or other accommodations.

The country's government has released its latest COVID-19 entry requirements and guidance, and has divided countries into very low risk, low risk, medium risk and high risk categories for the purposes of the entry of their citizens. All passengers must fill out the online Barbados immigration arrival form and submit it 24 hours prior to travel. All travellers, except those from ‘very low risk' nations, must also bring a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours before arrival. Those from ‘medium risk' countries will also undergo a second COVID-19 PCR test between days four and five of their stay. Travellers from ‘high risk' countries will also undergo a second COVID-19 PCR test on the fifth day of their stay in order to leave isolation on the seventh day. Passengers from ‘very low risk' and ‘low risk' nations are not required to quarantine/isolate.

The country’s national government, reportedly to the dismay of Madrid’s regional government, has announced that a lockdown will shortly be imposed on the city of Madrid which will include a restriction on movement except for essential purposes; social gatherings and the opening times of some businesses will also be further restricted.

The country's government is reportedly intending to extend a state of emergency, which is currently due to expire in mid-October, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Reports from two national newspapers in Italy suggest that a provisional date of 31 January 2021 is being considered, but is not yet official.