Securely Travel Travel Securely
SUMMARY: As European countries take steps to limit travel, protests are probable. The U.S. State Department is urging US citizens in Ethiopia to leave, now, and those who stay ensure their affairs are in order. The WHO hosted a Q&A on Omicron and urged people not to panic. President Biden released his plan to protect against COVID variants over the 2021-22 winter. There is snow in the Hawaii!
Europe - The U.S. Department of State’s OSAC (which Securely Travel is a member) warned how additional travel restrictions across Europe may result in additional protests. Protests have been occurring across the continent as the unvaccinated find their ability to engage limited.
Ukraine - The militaries of both Russia and Belarus continue to mass along the Ukrainian border, amidst bellicose talk emanating from Belarus’s Lukashenko curries favor and support with Russia’s Putin.
Ethiopia - From the U.S. Department of State: “We urge U.S citizens to depart Ethiopia using commercial options. We continue to provide emergency services such as emergency passports and repatriation loans. We are unlikely to be able to assist with departure if these options are unavailable.”
Gambia: From the U.S. Department of State: “The presidential election is on Dec. 4. Peaceful elections can become confrontational and escalate to violence. Exercise caution and avoid gatherings and protests.”
Europe - Politico published a useful “Country-by-Country” update on European travel restrictions. Worthy of a read. Links to specific country sections within the article:
Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus | CzechRepublic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Italy | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | United Kingdom
Politico - 03 December
Global - The World Health Organization, this morning, hosted a one-hour Q&A re the Omicron variant of COVID (click to play below). Separately the WHO noted how travel bans buys time, but is not, in their opinion the solution. That said amidst more stringent travel requirements being enacted across the globe. The organization urged people not to panic over the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant and said it was too early to say if COVID-19 vaccines would have to be modified to fight it.
United States - The Omicron variant continues to be discovered across the United States. CDC recommendations are for all to use good public health strategies: Distance, masks, and vaccines. In addition, all air travelers to the United States will no be required to have a negative COVID test within 24-hours of travel. President Biden published the plan to battle COVID - Delta and Omicron variants yesterday.
Germany - Yesterday Germany limited activities of the unvaccinated.
The latest updates on COVID travel from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
United States: National Weather Service: Record breaking warmth continues from the Southeast to the Southern Plains today, with widespread above average temperatures lingering throughout much of the Nation this weekend… …Heavy snow to impact portions of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest beginning Saturday morning…and… Snow in Hawaii atop Mauna Loa’s summit.
Panama: Adverse weather is predicted through at least 07 December – travelers may expect heavier than normal rainfall throughout Panama.
Brazil – Adverse weather is predicted throughout the country through at least 04 December.
Indonesia - Kesongo volcano erupted spreading volcanic mud.
Nothing significant to report
Solomon Islands: Indefinite nightly curfew is in place in Honiara - 19:00-06:00 nightly.
Global: The 24 most recent travel alerts from the governments of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom. This presentation of alerts is dynamic and is updated every 30 minutes.
United States - The TSA reports domestic travel for the first two days of December is hovering at about 80 percent of the 2019 travel levels, and at more than twice that of 2020.
For the comprehensive list of government travel alerts, visit the Travel Alert page (click button below)
