Countries Impose New Travel Restrictions As COVID Variant Spreads

As the world grapples with a newly-discovered COVID-19 Omicron variant, governments around the globe have imposed new travel restrictions. These include:

• On November 27, Israel became the first nation to close its borders completely in response to Omicron. The closure will last two weeks.
• Both Canada and the United States, along with several countries in Asia and Europe, have announced that they will not allow travelers from several African countries, including South Africa. Canada said citizens and permanent residents, regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19, who have been in any of 10 African countries in the previous 14 days will be subject to enhanced pre-entry and arrival testing, screening, and quarantine measures.
• Even before news of the Omicron variant was revealed, the U.S. government announced that, as of January 22, 2022, it will require essential travelers such as truck drivers and emergency personnel who are not U.S. residents and who are crossing U.S. land borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The rule aligns vaccination requirements for nonessential travelers, which took effect in November. The Associated Press has more information.
• On December 2, President Joe Biden announced plans tighten COVID-19 testing rules for all travelers to the United States. The new rules require every traveler to be tested one day (instead of three) before their flight, regardless of their vaccination status or the country they are coming from. Read more here. The White House is reportedly also considering additional travel-related measures.
• Like the United States, Ireland will require all arrivals to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test regardless of their vaccination status.
• As Reuters reported, Japanese airlines have halted new reservations as the country’s government widened a travel ban.