Overseas Situation Report Friday 21st May 2021
By Mike Evans
“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.” – Joe Girard
Following on from my report on Wednesday, I continue to look at what is happening around
Europe and what countries are now doing to kickstart their tourist economy for the summer.
But first we see that the EU has made some big decisions on opening up the EU to travellers.
The Council of the European Union has announced its decision to update the recommendation on restrictions for travel from third countries, which was first presented by the EU Commission on May 3.
In a press release, the Council explains that the Member States have agreed to allow more travellers from third countries to enter the block, in particular vaccinated travellers, who have been inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“This amendment responds to the ongoing vaccination campaigns by introducing certain waivers for vaccinated persons and easing the criteria to lift restrictions for third countries,” the press release notes.
It also explains that the recommendation has been updated to take into account the possible risks that the new Covid-19 mutations pose, thus making available an emergency brake mechanism, through which the block and the Member States will be able to quickly react to the emergence of a variant of concern in a third country.
Through the amended recommendation, the Council advises the Member States to lift restrictions on non-essential travellers from third countries, who have received the full dose of an EMA approved vaccine at least two weeks before they enter the block.
Yesterday, an EU official had confirmed for SchengenVisaInfo.com that the leaders of the EU countries agreed on the reopening of the borders for more travellers from outside the block, as well as to open borders for travellers who have been fully inoculated against Covid-19.
Under the new rules, the Member States are urged to increase the threshold used to determine the list of epidemiologically safe third countries, travellers from which are permitted to enter the EU for non-essential purposes from 25 to 75 new Covid-19 cases per 100 000 inhabitants over the last fortnight.
“Other existing criteria continue to apply, including a stable or decreasing trend of new cases, the number of tests performed, a four per cent positivity rate among all tests carried out, the overall response to Covid-19 in the country and the reliability of the available information,” the Council explains.
It also notes that reciprocity should continue to be taken into account on a case-by-case basis, just as it is now taken into account for China, Hong Kong and Macao. The EU has placed the latter in the list of the epidemiologically safe third countries, however, since they have shut the doors to European citizens, the EU also keeps the entry ban in place, thus applying reciprocity.
And finally, the Council reveals its plans to treat vaccination certificates of third-country citizens as equivalent to its digital green certificate as soon as the same is launched.
So, what is happening around Europe regarding opening up to tourist?. First to Denmark – the Danish authorities have announced that phase three of the gradual reopening of travel activities to and from Denmark began on May 14.
The second phase of Denmark’s reopening plan started back on May 1, which enabled fully vaccinated travellers and children under the age of 18 who are permanent residents in Denmark to travel to orange-listed countries.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was revealed that from the 14th May the restrictions for countries and regions placed on the yellow list would be relaxed. Consequently, more travellers will be exempt from quarantine requirements after entering Denmark.
“The incidence limit for opening/closing yellow and orange countries/regions in the EU and Schengen countries was raised from the previous 20/30 to 50/60 (/100,000/7 days). The country and regional colours, as a result of the new incidence limit, will be announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday afternoon and will be valid from Saturday at 16.00,” the Ministry’s statement reads.
Moreover, the Ministry announced that now persons residing in a European Union or Schengen Area country placed on the orange list will be allowed to enter the country without an essential purpose. However, they will still be subject to post-entry self-isolation and testing requirements unless they have been previously infected or fully vaccinated.
The isolation requirement for entries from orange EU and Schengen Area countries expires on June 26, during phase four, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
On the other hand, the requirement for yellow countries’ arrivals to undergo testing before boarding the aircraft is abolished. Nevertheless, the requirement to undergo Covid-19 testing after landing in Denmark continues to remain effective.
In contrast, children under the age of 15 are not required to undergo testing before or after landing in the country. Whilst this is good news for many, last week the Danish authorities decided to allow Israeli travellers to enter the country without an essential purpose after the country was added to the orange list. However, in contrast, Denmark decided to ban entry to all arrivals from India after the latter registered record numbers of Covid-19 infections.
Meanwhile in Ireland, it has been reported that they may start welcoming travellers from the United States by mid-June, at the same time that the European Commission plans to launch the “green certification” system within the bloc. Such hopes have been raised by the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, in its recent declaration, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Coveney stressed that international movement into Ireland depends on vaccination and the ability of passengers to prove vaccination status. According to him, the country’s government still needs to formalize schemes on reopening restriction-free travel between the United States and Ireland.
In this regard, the Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasized that “there was to be a memo actually today in government on international travel, but there is a bit more work required so it will be coming next week rather than this week.”
Up to this point, more than 256,390 persons have tested positive for the Coronavirus in Ireland, and 4,941 persons have died. Worldometers’ figures reveal that 238,567 persons have fully recovered from the virus, while there are 12,882 active cases.
Considering these figures and the Covid-19 situation in other countries, the Irish government is currently trying to find safe ways to restore the travel and tourism industry that has suffered huge financial loss due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Coveney stressed that the launching of vaccination documents would facilitate the travel process and help restore travel within the bloc. “This will mean that everybody in the EU will have on their mobile phone a scan code which, when they go through the airport, will be scanned and it will give the authorities in that airport the Covid status of the person – whether they’ve been vaccinated, whether they’ve been PCR tested negative, whether they’ve had Covid in the last six months and have recovered,” he stressed.
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed that the country would make decisions to open its doors for all vaccinated travellers, adding that testing results probably will be needed for persons who have recovered from the virus.
He said that then the country would consider making a similar approach for travel to and from the United States, where vaccinated citizens would be permitted to travel to Ireland without being subject to any restrictions imposed to halt the spread of the virus. Earlier this month, Ireland’s government allowed entry for citizens of Austria and Italy without obliging them to stay in hotel quarantine upon their arrival.
And finally for this report we go across the North Sea to Norway – the Norwegian Government has decided to introduce changes on the required documentation needed by foreigners to prove their legal residency in Norway and ease the entry restrictions.
The new change will enter into force on May 21, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“We have decided to adjust the regulations for entry for foreigners residing in Norway. The Ministry is now working on new criteria and will issue more detailed guidelines before the entry into force on May 21,” Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland said.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, it was revealed that the change includes relief in the documentation requirements for foreigners who have the right to enter the country. Thus, it will no longer be needed for them to be part of the population registration programme to be considered as legal residents of Norway in line with the entry restriction regulations.
The same Ministry pointed out that foreigners who are not registered as residents in Norway are required to provide additional information that supports the fact that they legally reside in the country.
Currently, Norway has stringent entry restrictions in place. Only Norwegian citizens and legal residents are allowed to enter the country and furthermore since May 9, everyone who stayed in a country outside the EEA or Schengen Area must stay self-isolated at a quarantine hotel.
Up until now only residents were allowed into the country with strict rules. Now some additional entries will be allowed. They include close family members of persons registered as legal residents in Norway, journalists and other media personnel, foreigners who need to stopover at an airport in Norway, seafarers and aircraft personnel, foreigners transporting passengers and goods, foreigners who carry essential social functions, healthcare personnel from Sweden and Finland who work in Norway, pupils and children who commute from Sweden and Finland to school institutions in Norway, business travellers, Swedish and Finish citizens who commute daily for work purposes.
With more and more countries opening up their borders to tourists there is a sort of inevitable consequence that the number of Covid-19 cases will rise but with so many having been vaccinated the hope is that the rise will be small. Time will tell.
Until the next time, Stay Safe.
Total Cases Worldwide – 165,954,760
Total Deaths Worldwide – 3,438,690
Total Recovered Worldwide – 145,124,456
Total Active Cases Worldwide – 17,391,614 (17.5% of the total cases)
Total Closed Cases Worldwide – 148,563,146
Information and resources: