This past week we re-assessed the COVID-19 risk levels of 12 countries, including Austria, Canada, Iran and Tanzania. It’s worth noting that cases in Russia have nearly tripled over the past week, and doubled in Brazil and Mexico, while the United States is well on its way to reaching 1 million cases.
Coronavirus cases will continue to ‘ebb and flow’ globally over the coming months, and so will the restrictions on movement, travel and business activity. A prolonged pandemic, and measures in place to contain it, leads to greater associated risks which may manifest as the crisis evolves in certain countries.
Many countries have already begun to see these related risks, including the disruption of services and protests. This past week, Amazon temporarily suspended all operations in France following a court ruling that the company must do more to protect its workers from COVID-19. Protests against stay at home restrictions have taken place across the US, including in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Idaho, California, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina, as right-wing activists demand that businesses be reopened.
Meanwhile, preparations for and response to natural disasters are complicated by the COVID-19 outbreak; authorities must update plans and respond in ways that reduce the risk of transmission. On 22 April, at least seven people were killed as tornadoes and flash-floods ripped across the southern US. Those affected by evacuation orders or forced to seek communal shelter following a disaster may be at higher risk of contracting the virus as some distancing measures – such as ‘stay at home’ – may not be possible.
Our goal remains to provide you with the best possible travel intelligence: helping you navigate COVID-19 travel restrictions now and monitor the risks at your future destinations. If you have any suggestions about how we can support you, please get in touch.
Riskline’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) special report is updated daily on the Riskline web portal, ensuring our corporate clients have the latest information and advice. Not a client? Get in touch with us today.
Click here to download a free sample pdf of the latest updates as of 23 April.
