This past week we re-assessed the COVID-19 risk levels of 15 countries, including Ireland, Mexico, Russia and South Korea. It’s worth noting that cases in Ecuador and Peru continue to rapidly increase past week, while a reopening phase is beginning in parts of Asia-Pacific.
From 1 May, authorities in China will lower the first-level emergency response state, the highest, to second-level in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, due to a decline in COVID-19 local transmission rates. Travellers arriving from other parts of China with low risk of transmission will not have to self-quarantine for 14 days. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that public services will gradually resume across the territory from 4 May, in a partial lifting of restrictions. Most government employees will return to work and some public facilities such as sports grounds, libraries and museums will reopen.
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 protests and unrest. In Lebanon, anti-government activists declared a “Day of Rage” on 27 April to protest the government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis following several days of riots in major cities over deteriorating economic conditions. Riots also erupted in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 24-25 April after at least two people were killed by police in Bondhere district for violating COVID-19 movement restrictions; officials relaxed curfew orders in response to the unrest.
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 30 April.