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SUMMARY: Governments are scrambling to provide the “correct response” to the arrival of the COVID Omicron variant and in doing so have created a state of flux for international travel. Japan rescinded their order to halt inbound ticket sales, while the U.S. adjusted the COVID testing requirement for inbound international travelers. Meanwhile in military forces continue to mass along Ukraine’s border with Russia and Belarus. Governments continue to update their individual advice to travelers, with the UK having been the most prolific.
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.
India - The street vendor association will be protesting at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s, who resides in the Civil Lines area of New Delhi on December 2.
Mexico - Internal dispute within the Sinaloa Cartel has extended into Sonora, Baja California.
Burkina Faso - UN human rights chief - If the insecurity within the country continues, the country will spiral into a humanitarian and human rights “catastrophe.”
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.”
Canada - Unvaccinated travelers in Canada will find themselves without public transport as Canada announced their new requirement, to ride public transport one must be vaccinated.
Japan - As quickly as the government moved to order airlines to stop selling inbound air travel tickets through 01 January 2022, due to the COVID Omicron variant, they rescinded the order. The flipflop on policy is more emblematic of the state of flux which Omicron is causing as government’s attempt to keep the public safe while the scientists rush to learn more to provide solid public health advice.
Global - Quarantine rules being ramped or renewed are causing both unexpected cost and disruption in the lives of travelers. Incidents of jumping quarantine, resulting in arrest, have occurred in both the Netherlands and Australia.
United States - The U.S. joined other nations in detecting the presence of the Omicron variant. The case, located in San Francisco, was for a traveler who arrived from South Africa on 22 November.
The latest updates on COVID travel from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
United States: National Weather Service: Widespread record breaking warmth likely throughout the central
United States today……Gusty winds and fire weather concerns located over the northern High Plains and central Appalachians. Scattered showers and lake effect snow forecast across the Great Lakes and Northeast through Friday morning.
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.
Nothing significant to report
Mexico -
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.
For a more comprehensive list of government travel alerts, visit the Travel Alert page (link above)
