COVID – 19 : World closes borders, restricts travel
Reuters – Countries around the world continued to close borders, impose strict entry and quarantine requirements and restrict large gatherings in efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Countries have shuttered museums, tourist attractions and sporting events to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission, with more than 138,000 people worldwide infected and more than 5,000 dead.
Colombia said it will close its borders with Venezuela and stop visitors who have been in Europe or Asia, while a US ban on entry for most people from continental Europe is due to start at midnight.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Europe has become the pandemic’s current epicentre after reporting more cases and deaths than the rest of world combined, apart from China where the coronavirus originated last December.
Saudi Arabia will suspend all international flights for two weeks, starting Sunday., Taiwan will require travellers from mainland Europe, Britain and Ireland to self-isolate for 14 days, while New Zealand implemented a similar measure for all those entering the country.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also called on cruise ships, a major source of infections in some countries, not to come to New Zealand until June 30.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a ban on public events with more than 500 people , joining countries such as Australia where the ban will come into force on Monday.
Britain will introduce emergency laws next week to ban mass gatherings, said a government source, an escalation of its crisis plan which critics had said is too relaxed.
The Philippines capital Manila, home to 12 million people, urged shopping malls to close for one month.
In a bid to limit the economic damage from a pandemic that has infected the US, the House of Representatives passed an aid package that would provide free testing and paid sick leave.
The US military said it will halt most domestic travel, extending earlier restrictions on international travel for its more than a million active-duty troops around the world.
Travel bans have hammered airlines and travel companies worldwide, while financial markets have been hit by panic selling this week.
The impact of the coronavirus on everyday life is also deepening.
The Czech government shut most shops and restaurants from early Saturday, with exceptions including food stores, pharmacies and gas stations.
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum and the Moulin Rouge cabaret closed their doors. The Smithsonian museums in Washington were preparing to do so on Saturday and Broadway theatres in New York went dark.
The kissing of the Blarney Stone, one of Ireland’s oldest tourist traditions, was suspended.
Apple Inc said it will close all its retail stores worldwide, outside Greater China, until March 27. Apple reopened all 42 of its branded stores in China on Friday as the spread of the virus on mainland China slowed dramatically.
The global sporting calendar has also been left in tatters with major tournaments cancelled, postponed or forced to continue without spectators.
March 15 , 2020
Photo: Men cover their faces with plastic bags as a precaution for spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 14 in Caracas, Venezuela. – Reuters
