Countries restricting foreign travel over Omicron threat 
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
January 28, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023
Countries restricting foreign travel over Omicron threat 

Coronavirus chronicle

TBS Report 
02 December, 2021, 03:05 pm
Last modified: 02 December, 2021, 06:59 pm

Related News

  • Holiday trips within China surge after lifting of Covid curbs
  • India launches world’s 1st intranasal Covid vaccine
  • US CDC still looking at potential stroke risk from Pfizer bivalent Covid shot
  • China says Covid deaths down by nearly 80 percent
  • Updated Covid vaccines prevented illness from latest variants -CDC

Countries restricting foreign travel over Omicron threat 

The Omicron variant has already been detected in several countries including Germany, the UK and the US

TBS Report 
02 December, 2021, 03:05 pm
Last modified: 02 December, 2021, 06:59 pm
Passengers wearing protective face masks, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, walk at the Haneda airport, in Tokyo, Japan June 13, 2021. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou
Passengers wearing protective face masks, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, walk at the Haneda airport, in Tokyo, Japan June 13, 2021. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou

The newest variant of Covid-19 detected in South Africa, B.1.1.529 or popularly known as Omicron, has pushed many countries to revert the relaxed restrictions to their previous state of stern travel curb. 

The Omicron variant has already been detected in several other countries including Germany UK and the US. 

Scientists suspect that the new mutation of the deadly coronavirus could be even more contagious than the currently rampant delta variant and that vaccines may be less effective against it. 

Here are some of the countries that have reinstated travel restrictions with foreign parties in an attempt to prevent another outbreak. 

India has deferred the resumption of international commercial flights that was scheduled for 15 December. 

According to guidelines issued by India's Health Ministry,  international passengers who entered via air-bubble system must submit a self-declaration form to an online government portal that includes a 14-day travel history and a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to flights. 

Travellers from countries deemed "at-risk" will also now face further testing and surveillance, including a PCR test on arrival. They will also have to quarantine at home for seven days.

Authorities in Germany have instructed airlines to fly back only German citizens and those residing in Germany from eight African countries — South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi and Lesotho. 

Both unvaccinated and vaccinated travellers coming from the region have to spend 14 days in quarantine regardless of whether they test negative for Covid-19.

The UK has placed South Africa and several of its neighbouring countries on a "red list". 

Passengers returning from those countries will face mandatory hotel quarantine for 10 days at their own expense.

France has suspended all flights from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini.

Switzerland has also significantly tightened travel restrictions suspending regular flights from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. 

People entering the country from the southern region of Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the UK, Egypt, Malawi and other countries are instructed to provide Covid-negative test result and spend 10 days in quarantine.

The US has blocked entry for foreign nationals from southern African states to curb infections of the Omicron variant. 

Canada government has imposed new travel bans for South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Namibia. 

Only Canadian citizens from those countries and people with permanent residency in Canada can currently enter the country in compliance with testing and quarantine regulations.

Brazil has imposed a ban on flights from six southern African countries including South Africa. 

The UAE has restricted travellers originating from or transiting from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, according to Emirates airline.

Outbound passenger flights to the countries listed however are permitted.

Pakistan on 27 November announced that it would be closing its borders to arrivals from South Africa, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana. 

Pakistani citizens returning from affected countries will be permitted entry if they're vaccinated and produce negative results taken from before and after travel.

Similarly, Kuwait halted direct commercial flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi starting 27 November. 

Its government also advised against all travel, particularly to southern Africa.

Japan has closed borders to all foreigners, regardless of their country of origin from 30 November. 

South Korea and Thailand restricted flights from eight African countries from 1 December and those who have already entered the country have to immediately follow quarantine measures. 

In Australia, foreigners who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mozambique or Malawi in 14 days have been banned entry. 

Similarly, New Zealand has marked these countries and Papua New Guinea as high-risk areas because of the Omicron variant.

Angola, Egypt, Mauritius and Rwanda, have imposed travel restrictions on South Africa and other nations on the continent to prevent the spread of new variant. 

 

Top News / World+Biz

COVID-19 / travel restrictions / travel ban / Covid-19 Omicron Variant

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • The Bombay blood type: A rare blood group in urgent need of database
    The Bombay blood type: A rare blood group in urgent need of database
  • Photo: TBS
    TBS Roundtable: What lies ahead in 2023
  • Photo: TBS
    BNP demands govt's immediate resignation as road march in Dhaka begins

MOST VIEWED

  • People walk with their luggage at a railway station during the annual Spring Festival travel rush ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in Shanghai, China January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song
    Holiday trips within China surge after lifting of Covid curbs
  • Photo: Collected
    India launches world’s 1st intranasal Covid vaccine
  • A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) booster vaccine targeting BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub variants is pictured at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
    US CDC still looking at potential stroke risk from Pfizer bivalent Covid shot
  •  A medical worker checks the IV drip treatment of a patient lying on a bed in the emergency department of a hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Staff
    China says Covid deaths down by nearly 80 percent
  • Sean Bagley, 14, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) booster vaccine targeting BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub variants at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
    Updated Covid vaccines prevented illness from latest variants -CDC
  • People embrace at the international arrivals gate at Beijing Capital International Airport after China lifted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine requirement for inbound travellers in Beijing, China January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
    China says peak Covid infections exceeded 7 million daily, deaths more than 4,000 daily

Related News

  • Holiday trips within China surge after lifting of Covid curbs
  • India launches world’s 1st intranasal Covid vaccine
  • US CDC still looking at potential stroke risk from Pfizer bivalent Covid shot
  • China says Covid deaths down by nearly 80 percent
  • Updated Covid vaccines prevented illness from latest variants -CDC

Features

Snipe in flight. Photo: Enam Ul Haque

Baikka Beel: 'A world where snipe work late'

1h | Panorama
Photo: Noor-A-Alam

Pet cafes: Where love for food and animals cohabit

3h | Food
Illustration: TBS

How MFS is turbocharging national economy

5h | Thoughts
Now is the time to focus on FDI composition

Now is the time to focus on FDI composition

7h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Gold covered mummy discovered in Egypt

Gold covered mummy discovered in Egypt

39m | TBS World
Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

1d | TBS Stories
Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

1d | TBS Stories
Gavi may have to leave Camp Nou

Gavi may have to leave Camp Nou

18h | TBS SPORTS

Most Read

1
Picture: Collected
Bangladesh

US Embassy condemns recent incidents of visa fraud

2
Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 
Bangladesh

Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 

3
Illustration: TBS
Banking

16 banks at risk of capital shortfall if top 3 borrowers default

4
Photo: Collected
Splash

Hansal Mehta responds as Twitter user calls him 'shameless' for making Faraaz

5
A frozen Beyond Burger plant-based patty. Photographer: AKIRA for Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Special

Fake meat was supposed to save the world. It became just another fad

6
Representational Image
Banking

Cash-strapped Islami, Al-Arafah and National turn to Sonali Bank for costly fund

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net