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Urgent Coronavirus Travel Advisory Updates For Wednesday March 18

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How the Coronavirus is affecting Travel for Wendesday March 18.

This page will keep you informed on how the Coronavirus (Covid 19) is affecting travel. This page will be kept in point form with only concrete information issued by government bodies. 

Wednesday March 18th, 2020 

Tens of millions of people around the world have suddenly found themselves under various forms of lockdown as governments scrambled to impose new coronavirus-related restrictions over the past 24 hours

  • The number of coronavirus cases In Italy increased by 4,207 in 24 hours. The total number of cases now stands at 35,713 as of Wednesday
  • America’s top automakers including Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors, will temporarily close all US plants due to the coronavirus outbreak
  • The United Kingdom coronavirus death toll has risen to 104 – in what is the biggest daily jump in deaths so far
  • Delta has parked 50% of its fleet
  • President Trump discussed the devastating effect coronavirus has had against the airline industry
  • President Trump confirmed he's planning to bar asylum seekers and other undocumented immigrants from crossing the US southern border in a bid to to prevent spread of coronavirus
  • The World Health Organization is continuing to call on countries to isolate, test and treat suspected cases of novel coronavirus as the pandemic sweeps the world
  • Gov. Attilio Fontana of Lombardy, Italy, made another appeal to the people: “You must not go out, you have to stay at home”
  • US-Canada flight restrictions will take effect on March 21
  • The US is putting a temporary pause on refugee admissions in light of the coronavirus pandemic
  • Australian airline Qantas and its subsidiary Jetstar will suspend scheduled international flights from late March until at least the end of May due to the coronavirus crisis

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Australian airline Qantas

Wednesday March 18th, 2020 (continued)

  • There are at least 8,525 cases of novel coronavirus in the United States, according to the state and local health agencies
  • Air Canada announced Wednesday that it will gradually suspend the majority of its international and US trans-border flights by March 31
  • Arizona governor pleads for blood donations during outbreak
  • Nearly one in every four Californians has been ordered to stay home to help curb the coronavirus spread
  • The low-cost airline Ryanair said it expects that “most if not all” its flights will be grounded by March 24
  • Israel has announced that it will immediately start barring all foreign nationals from entering the country
  • More than 4,000 fines handed out as France requires paper document to move about
  • An airline agency group warned Congress that the ongoing situation with coronavirus will severely impact the ability of airports to meet debt requirements
  • The World Health Organization on Wednesday expressed concern about lack of information on coronavirus cases in the war-torn countries of Syria and Yemen
  • A Missouri resident from Boone County has died of coronavirus

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air canada
Air Canada to suspend majority of its international, U.S. trans-border flights

Wednesday March 18th, 2020 (continued)

  • Portugal has declared a state of emergency, which will take effect at midnight (8 p.m. ET on Wednesday)
  • French citizens were urged to keep protective masks for health care workers and to support the strained health care system at a news conference on Wednesday
  • Over 50% of New Jersey coronavirus cases are hospitalized
  • At least one person has died from COVID-19 in Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday
  • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday the state’s first death as a result of novel coronavirus
  • There have been 12,094 flight cancelations worldwide today
  • On average, COVID-19 fatalities in Italy are happening “eight days” after patients show first symptoms
  • Digestive symptoms may be more common in coronavirus infections than previously thought
  • Scientists say they've developed a coronavirus test that can give results in 30 minutes
  • Coronavirus death toll rises to 55 in Washington state
  • London could go into lockdown as early as Friday afternoon in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to reports in multiple UK news outlets
  • Both the men's and women's professional tennis tours have announced that their seasons will be suspended until June 7
  • California reports its 15th coronavirus-related death

(Continued below)

Trump gives speech

Wednesday March 18th, 2020 (continued)

  • A hotel industry group says hotel rooms are more than 80% empty in four US cities
  • The US Navy hospital USNS Comfort could still be a “few weeks” away from arriving in New York
  • Cuba’s Health Ministry confirmed its first novel coronavirus-related death
  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new mandatory order for non-essential businesses that says they can have no more than 50 percent of workforce report for work
  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new mandatory order for non-essential businesses that says they can have no more than 50 percent of workforce report for work
  • Chilean President Sebastián Piñera declared a 90-day state of emergency today amid growing coronavirus concerns
  • Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that more than 14,000 people have been tested for coronavirus in the state of New York
  • The Brazilian government has partially closed its border with Venezuela today
  • All aerial and maritime connections between mainland Spain and its Canary and Balearic Islands will be suspended from 7 p.m
  • The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 240 cases of novel coronavirus as of this morning
  • China to deliver million masks to France
  • Southern California’s Palm Springs has ordered residents to shelter-in-place and limit activities to those only essential to daily lives
  • The Singaporean government has announced that all travelers entering the country will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day home quarantine starting Saturday
  • President Trump confirmed on Twitter that Canada and the US will close their border to non-essential traffic
  • The United Arab Emirates has temporarily banned all its citizens from traveling abroad during the coronavirus pandemic
  • JetBlue announced today that it will make a 40% cut to its schedule as it weathers damage to the aviation industry from the coronavirus
  • The government of Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travelers from countries with more than 1,000 cases of novel coronavirus domestically
  • China is sending 100,000 novel coronavirus test kits and other essential medical supplies to the Philippines to assist the country “in fighting the epidemic,”
  • The transatlantic cruise ship MS Braemar docked at the Cuban port of Mariel, west of Havana, this morning
  • The number of people who have died from the coronavirus globally has exceeded 8,000, while the number of infections has soared past 200,000
  • Iran has confirmed 147 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s total death toll to 1,135
  • This year's Glastonbury music festival in the United Kingdom has been canceled, the event's organizers said on Twitter Wednesday
  • Hong Kong reported its largest increase in new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, after a period of apparent slowdown in infections
  • Three American tourists went to Lima, Peru, for a yoga retreat in the Sacred Valley at Munay Sanqo
  • Today, Malaysia begins its first day of travel restrictions and business closures

(Continued below)

Wednesday March 18th, 2020 (continued)

  • The Philippines has been placed under a “state of calamity” for six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the state news agency
  • Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared a “human biosecurity emergency” today and announced new restrictions to halt the spread of the coronavirus
  • Taiwan is banning most foreign nationals from entering the country in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus
  • Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed $25 million to support organizations responding to the coronavirus outbreak
  • Saudi Arabia has suspended all work in private sectors for 15 days
  • Sri Lanka has suspended all flights arriving into the country for two weeks
  • United announces 60% schedule reduction in April. This includes cutting international flights by 85%, and flights across the US and Canada by 42%, said the airline
Travel bans

Travel Bans That You Need To Know

he European Union: European leaders have banned non-essential travel to the EU for 30 days

United States: US-Canada border crossing limits are expected. Travel from the UK and Ireland suspended as well as the 26 countries in Europe's the Schengen Area free movement zone. Travelers from China and Iran in the last 14 days are also not allowed to enter.

Australia: Australia requires “all people” arriving in the country to self-quarantine for 14 days. Travelers who have been in China, Iran, South Korea or Italy in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter or transit for 14 days.

Cambodia: A ban on foreign nationals arriving from Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the US for 30 days from March 17.

Canada: Entry is denied to people who are not Canadian citizens, US citizens or permanent residents. US-Canada border crossing limits are expected.

Cape Verde: From March 17 a three-week suspension of all incoming flights from Portugal and all EU countries affected by the pandemic, and from the US, Brazil, Senegal and Nigeria.

China: All international arrivals to Beijing must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities and at their own cost. Arrivals from Iran, Italy, Japan or Korea and traveling to Beijing, Guangzhou or Shanghai are subject to quarantine for 14 days. Shanghai has listed 12 countries from which arriving travelers will be quarantined for 14 days.

Colombia: Entry denied to people who are not Colombian citizens, permanent residents or diplomats.

Czech Republic: Visitors from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, UK, Norway, Denmark and France, will be banned. Outbound travel to high-risk countries is also banned.

Egypt: Flights in and out of Egyptian airports suspended for two weeks starting March 19.

Germany: Shut its borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark. Goods and commuters will be exempt from the ban.

Haiti: Beginning midnight local time on March 16, Haiti is suspending flights from Europe, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Latin America for two weeks.

Hong Kong: Starting March 19, Hong Kong will require all arriving travelers from foreign countries to be quarantined for 14 days at home.

Hungary: Closed its borders to non-nationals.

India: All travelers from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK are banned from entering. All tourist visas are suspended and a 14-day quarantine is enforced on all travelers.

Japan: Banning entry on passengers who have been in affected regions of China, South Korea or Italy within the last 14 days

Malaysia: Citizens are banned from traveling abroad, with foreign tourists and visitors restricted from entering the country.

Morocco: Suspended all international flights to and from its territory “until further notice.”

New Zealand: All travelers, including New Zealand citizens and residents, entering the country will be required to “self-isolate” for 14 days. The only exemptions are the Pacific Islands.

Peru: From March 16, flights from and to Europe and Asia are suspended for 30-days.

Philippines: Cebu Pacific is canceling all flights — domestic and international — from March 19 through April 14. In Luzon all mass public transportation has been suspended.

Russia: Passengers who have been in China, France, Germany, South Korea or Spain and are planning to stay in Moscow must report themselves to the authorities by phone and stay self-isolated for 14 days.

Saudi Arabia: Apart from Saudi nationals, passengers who have transited through or have been in 30 countries and territories in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter. See the list here.

South Korea: Visitors who have been in China's Hubei Province in the past 14 days, and passport holders from that region, are not permitted entry.

Spain: A state of emergency has already been declared in Spain and restrictions on travel in and out of the country are expected. Several Spain-bound airplanes were turned back to the UK midair.

Sri Lanka: The South Asian nation has suspended all flights arriving into the country for two weeks, effective midnight today.

Bolivia: International and national flights into Bolivia will be suspended starting Friday. The country's borders will be closed from Thursday, with only Bolivian citizens, residents, and trade allowed to enter.

Thailand: Suspended its visa exemption policies for travelers from Hong Kong, South Korea and Italy, while visa on arrival has been stopped for 18 countries. See the list here.

Turkey: Halted travel to and from 9 European countries: Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Nationals of those countries are not allowed to enter the country.

Vietnam: Travelers who have been in the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, plus the UK, within the past 14 days will not be permitted to enter or transit. Visas upon arrival will also no longer be issued for all foreign nationals

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Sources: CNN/Governments