A new website, Covid.Control.com, identifies epidemiological data, entry restrictions, and the status of tourism-related openings for countries in Europe and around the world via an interactive map. There is rising concern about authoritarianism and the severity of measures in some countries, particularly when measures are in place without time limits.
On September 23, the world reached 32 million cases according to Worldometers. Starting September 2, Poland banned flights from dozens of countries (reports vary from 43 to 63), including Spain, France, and the U.S. New measures continue to be implemented in several countries, many aimed at making it more difficult for young people to get together.
Earlier today, a 28-year-old man in the canton of Geneva become Switzerland’s second confirmed case of coronavirus. Inclusion on the list was largely based on the 14 countries having similar or better epidemiological situations as the EU, measured as new COVID cases during the previous two weeks per 100,000 in the population. The ECDC posts regular COVID-19 updates on the situation in the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom. The French Cabinet met September 11 and, while it was expected that new lockdowns would be announced, the prime minister implemented no major new restrictions. Toward the end of July, several European countries reported rising case numbers, including France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. The Canadian government asks citizens travelling abroad to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to allow for emergency notification (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration and to ensure travel medical insurance covers COVID-19.
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It’s wise to also check the website of the public health authority of the country you plan on visiting. The EU president called for the next EU budget to be a “Marshall Plan,” the post-WWII aid program for Western Europe implemented by the U.S. As of March 19, the U.S. State Department’s warning is at “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” the highest level, regardless of destination in the world. The rule was already in place in specific neighborhoods in 2019 to prevent noise problems but has been expanded since the pandemic to limit the spread of COVID-19. A new wastewater study shows the virus was present in Spain in mid-January. This will leave England’s green list with 62 destinations (including the Azores and Madeira, but not the rest of Portugal), down from a high of 78 destinations. There are fines for violating the measures. The EU opened to travelers beyond its borders on July 1, but the U.S. is not yet one of the countries allowed to visit. The country had some of the world’s most severe lockdown restrictions. Croatia opened its borders to countries beyond the EU’s green-lit list of 14, including to the United States.