COVID-19: travel restrictions affecting medical tourism

A country by country summary of the latest travel news that affects international and domestic medical tourism, as IMTJ goes to press.

As of 18 March 2020:
Countries affected by COVID-19: 159
Confirmed cases: 84,975
Deaths from COVID-19: 7,529
Source: WHO

World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO has stepped up its calls for intensified action to fight the coronavirus pandemic, imploring countries not to let this fire spread. Europe has become the centre of the epidemic. The virus is present in all 27 EU states, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China.
Around the world, governments have closed spas, schools and bars, sealed borders, cancelled sporting events, imposed tough social distancing measures, and asked or required people to stay at home.
Many countries have closed borders inbound and outbound, partially or completely, and imposed requirements for travellers to be tested or quarantined.

European Union (EU)

As well as individual country moves, the EU has imposed an unprecedented 30-day ban on travel for foreigners going to the bloc in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus. This has already put much of the EU on lockdown.
The European Commission has also banned all non-essential travel throughout Europe’s Schengen free-travel zone. The Schengen zone consists of 22 of the 27 European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
All trips between non-European countries and EU countries are suspended inbound and outbound.
The UK, no longer an EU member, has been asked to close its borders but it has yet to do so. The EU may ban entry and exit; the UK has only advised residents to avoid non-essential travel abroad for 30 days.
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Spain have now all blocked travel even with countries in the Schengen zone; others are expected to follow suit. Many have asked citizens to avoid all non-essential trips.

USA

The Department of State has advised all U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad after adding the UK and Ireland to the European travel ban.
The US does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the country. However, cases of COVID-19 have been reported in many states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. It has now asked all citizens to avoid non-essential travel.

OTHER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

BRUNEI

Brunei has barred its citizens and foreign residents in the country from leaving the country.

CANADA

All Canadians are asked to postpone or cancel non-essential travel, while the border has been closed to non-Canadian citizens. For the moment the ban does not apply to U.S. citizens. Canadians currently travelling abroad must return while it is still possible to do so and must self-isolate for 14 days. The self-isolation period will also be enforced for Americans entering the country.

COLOMBIA

Nobody can enter the county except for citizens and residents. Nationals and residents who arrive from overseas must undergo mandatory preventive isolation for 14 days.

EL SALVADOR

Has barred entry to all foreigners, except legal permanent residents.

GUATEMALA

Is barring entry of citizens from the USA, Canada, South Korea, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, China and Iran.

HONG KONG

Has issued a red travel alert urging people to adjust their plans and avoid non-essential travel to Ireland, Britain and the United States. The government advised all to consider delaying all non-essential travel outside the immediate region.

INDONESIA

Has prohibited the entry and transit of visitors from seven European countries, plus Iran. All travellers who wish to visit Indonesia must obtain a health certificate from their home countries and must apply for a visa from Indonesian missions. Restrictions for travellers from China and South Korea remain in place.

IRAN

Revolutionary Guards have cleared streets, shops and public places of people.

JORDAN

Has banned all flights in and out of the country.

KAZAHKSTAN

Has closed their borders by barring entry to Kazakhstan for everyone except returning citizens. Kazakhs are also barred from leaving the country.

KUWAIT

All international flights have been cancelled.

MALAYSIA

Is in lockdown, with borders closed to foreigners. Citizens are banned from leaving, while those who return must undergo 14-day self-quarantine. All individuals are only allowed to leave home briefly.

MOROCCO

Has suspended all international passenger flights to and from its airports.

NEW ZEALAND

Requires all incoming travellers, including its own citizens, to self-isolate for two weeks.

NORWAY

Anyone coming into Norway from outside Nordic countries must be quarantined at home for two weeks from their arrival. Foreign travellers from countries outside the Nordics arriving at Oslo airport must return home.

OMAN

All non-Omanis except GCC citizens are banned from entry by land, sea or air.

PHILIPPINES

The National Capital Region, where its capital Manila is located, is sealed off. Other provinces ordered partial lockdowns.

QATAR

Has stopped issuing visas on arrival to several European nationalities.

SAUDI ARABIA

All international flights have been cancelled.

SERBIA

Has closed the borders to foreigners except diplomats and full time residents.

SPAIN

A 15-day state of emergency limits the movement of people and vehicles. Madrid’s regional government has forced the closure of all cafés, bars, restaurants, cinemas, gyms and non-food shops. There is a national lockdown as people are banned from leaving their homes unless they are buying essential supplies and medicines, or going to work.

TURKEY

Air links to many European countries have been closed as the county goes into lockdown.

UAE

Has asked all citizens and residents to avoid travelling. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has introduced screenings of passengers travelling into Dubai from across the world through its airports, ports and border checkpoints. Specialised medical teams are conducting laboratory sampling and following up on suspected cases. The DHA is requiring that all travellers who return to the UAE from ‘countries of concern’, or from one of the top 10 countries reporting local transmission of COVID-19, will be subject to home isolation for 14 days. The countries of concern are China, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Singapore and France. The list may be added to daily.
Dubai airports are carrying out strict measures such as non-intrusive thermal screening for all passengers that arrive at Dubai airports and passengers from countries with a high infection rate are screened twice. A nasal swab is carried out by DHA’s airport medical centre team at DXB on all passengers arriving from China, Italy, Syria, Lebanon and Thailand. Flights to Bahrain, Iran and China (except Beijing), Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Turkey are temporarily suspended.
The UAE has stopped issuing any new visas. All spas in Dubai have been closed on government orders.

UZBEKISTAN

Has closed all borders and declared a state of emergency, barring entry to Kazakhstan for everyone except returning citizens. It has also banned all departures by locals.

VIETNAM

All travellers from the USA, Europe and ASEAN countries must be tested and go into mandatory quarantine. No new visas are being issued. All travel from Europe is banned.