Britain has done a U-turn and scrapped the idea of Covid “vaccine passports”; typical as pandemic strategies and travel regulations around the world change at bewildering speed. Here’s a quick snapshot of selected countries – though the situation fluctuates, seemingly by the hour, and may have changed by the time you read it.
AUSTRALIA
Most Australians can’t leave the country without a permit so international travel is off. There is some talk the ban may be lifted in November, but no promises. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is reported as saying that Australia’s international border could open for people departing Australian states that have reached an 80% vaccination level, even if other states had not reached it.
Qantas says December 2021 remains in reach for “the gradual reopening of international borders” based on pace of vaccine rollout. Naturally, all passengers must be vaccinated.
NSW and Victoria are floundering as they struggle to control the highly infectious Covid Delta variant. They now concede they are unlikely to return to Covid-zero status. The Delta variant has spread in both states, making it ever more difficult to trace contacts and keep a lid on the spread.
Various stay-at-home orders and lockdowns apply in parts of both states.
Other jurisdictions across the country (Tas, WA, Qld and NT) continue to pursue a zero-Covid target, so various state and territory borders will remain closed for some time. Sydneysiders may be able to fly to London before they can visit Perth.
Interstate travel in Australia looks problematic into the future, with different rules between jurisdictions. Vaccine passports are being rolled out in some jurisdictions and double-vaccinated Australians are likely to enjoy more freedom of visitation and movement than their unvaccinated counterparts.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand is still pursuing a Covid-zero strategy and is currently striving to eliminate a small Delta outbreak in Auckland, which for the past few days has been delivering new cases each day in the low double-digit range. If any country can eliminate Covid Delta, it will be New Zealand. A detailed study published in the Lancet shows that elimination is a far better strategy, from every standpoint including economic, than “living with” the virus – if you can achieve it.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday that Auckland would stay at Covid-19 alert level 4 (the strictest) lockdown for another week until 11.59pm next Tuesday, 21 September. The rest of New Zealand will remain in alert level 2 until the same date.
There are no fixed plans to resume the trans-Tasman “travel bubble”, which New Zealand suspended indefinitely in June after the Covid Delta variant entered Australia through Sydney Airport and spread rapidly.
BRITAIN
In a dramatic U-turn, Britain has scrapped plans to bring in Covid “vaccine passports”. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed people won’t need them to get into nightclubs and cinemas.
Javid is not anticipating any more lockdowns. He also confirmed that extra Covid testing for double-vaccinated British holidaymakers will be scrapped as soon as possible. Several countries – including the US, Israel, Hungary, Germany and France – have announced (or have already started) third-dose vaccination programs for more vulnerable citizens. Britain may join them in doing so.
SINGAPORE
With 80% of its people fully inoculated against Covid-19, Singapore is now the world’s most vaccinated country, according to Reuters.
In August, Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said if Singapore can “continue to keep the number of severe cases and illnesses under control and our healthcare capacity is not overly stretched,” then the country will further open its economy, permitting social activities and quarantine-free travel to resume.
(Other countries that have high vaccination rates include Israel, Cuba, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Chile.)
THE UNITED STATES
Once in the US, you can travel between US states – but only a favoured few Australians are allowed to visit America while Australia’s outward travel ban lasts. Americans themselves face difficulties in foreign travel. Earlier in September the European Union recommended that US visitors should be banned from nonessential travel to its member states – but the rules are patchily applied or ignored.
A small number of EU countries have restricted all nonessential travel from the United States: Bulgaria, Norway and Sweden. France has banned unvaccinated American travellers.
CANADA
Fully vaccinated visitors from Australia can enter Canada with a negative Covid-19 test result a (a negative RT-PCR NAAT test) taken 72 hours before departing for Canada. Visitors from Australia require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before departure for Canada.
EU COUNTRIES
Restrictions vary from country to country. Many destinations require travellers to submit a negative Covid test on arrival, while some have both testing and quarantine measures in place for vaccinated visitors.
THAILAND
Fully vaccinated foreign travellers will be allowed to visit Thailand for tourism purposes from 1 October. Visitors will be able to visit Bangkok and four other provinces without undergoing two weeks’ hotel quarantine.
The five areas – also including Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces – are reportedly expected to follow a “sandbox” model, as piloted in Phuket. It requires tourists to stay within a certain area for seven days after arrival and take Covid tests.
On 21 October, more destinations are due to be added to the list, including Chiang Rai, Sukhothai and Rayong.
VIETNAM
Phu Quoc Island will be Vietnam’s first tourist destination reopened to fully vaccinated foreign visitors, beginning in November.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved the plan on a pilot basis, according to a government website. Foreign travellers will be required to have received their second vaccine shot at least 14 days (but not more than one year) before travelling to the island.
International tourists must register negative for Covid-19 with a PCR test within 72 hours ahead of departure for Vietnam.
INDONESIA
Indonesia banned all foreign travellers to Bali in July. The situation is under review as vaccination on the island heads for 70%. The West Australian newspaper quoted president of the WA-based Indonesia Institute, Ross Taylor, warning that WA’s zero-Covid policy may prevent West Australians from travelling to Bali for up to the next seven years.
FIJI
The Fiji Government plans to reopen borders to international tourists in November. The government expects to reach its target of having at least 80% of its eligible population vaccinated in that month.
Written by Peter Needham
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