The Overseas Situation Report Wednesday 11th March 2022
by Mike Evans
“You must be the change you want to see in the world”
– Mahatma Ghandi
With the situation in Ukraine taking the world’s attention, the pandemic is still amongst us, and this report is looking at the latest travel situation across the European continent.
Across Europe countries are starting to reduce restrictions and to try and entice tourists back to their territories. Greece is scrapping Passenger Locator Forms from March 15.the country’s tourism minister has announced, meaning zero Covid-related admin for vaccinated holidaymakers.
“Following the recommendation of the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Health, the completion of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) by visitors from all countries for their entry into Greece is abolished from March 15, 2022,” said minister of tourism Vassilis Kikilias.
“The abolition of the PLF simplifies the entry process for travellers, shifting the emphasis to the control of vaccination certificates.”
Greece has also dropped its guidance for face masks to be worn in busy outdoor spaces. Since 7 February, double vaccinated visitors have been able to enter Greece with proof of vaccination alone – no testing required. However, as of January, the country has stamped an expiry date of 270 days on vaccine validity – meaning if your second dose of the vaccine was more than 270 days ago (about nine months), you’ll need a booster to still qualify as fully vaccinated. Travellers to Greece must have had their second vaccine dose more than 14 days ago but fewer than 180 days ago in order to use proof of vaccination alone.
Unvaccinated or partly vaccinated visitors still need to show a negative PCR test (taken within 72 hours) or antigen test (taken within 24 hours), with children under the age of five exempt from this requirement. Passenger locator forms are a last vestige of Covid travel measures for many countries who have chosen to drop testing and quarantine, usually for vaccinated travellers only.
Ireland has abolished all COVID-19 entry restrictions from 6 March. The relaxation of rules came into force yesterday (Sunday), including the removal of the need for travellers to fill in the Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
Announcing the changes, the Dublin government said: “From Sunday 6 March 2022, travellers to Ireland are not required to show proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result upon arrival.
“There are no post-arrival testing or quarantine requirements for travellers to Ireland.
“Any individual that develops COVID-19 symptoms while in Ireland should follow the Health Service Executive guidance in relation to isolation and undertaking antigen or PCR testing as appropriate. “Travel carriers will not ask to check a PLF receipt prior to travel to Ireland.”
However, travellers transiting from overseas to Northern Ireland via Irish ports or airports still need to comply with UK travel requirements, including completing a UK PLF.
The German government introduced a legal framework for pandemic regulations and rules Wednesday. Most of the country’s current coronavirus restrictions are set to end by March 20.
The country’s health and justice ministers said if German lawmakers pass the framework, the country’s 16 state legislatures could adopt the new “hot spot” measures if virus cases rise again in certain regions, if hospitals are at risk of becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, or if new virus variants start spreading.The regulations cover matters such as mask requirements, social distancing, and requiring proof of vaccination, recovery of the illness or negative tests to be able to participate in certain parts of public life.
The framework also allows state governments to impose basic protective measures without a special parliamentary resolution, such as making masks mandatory in nursing homes, hospitals or on public transportation. Nationwide, masks would remain mandatory on long-distance trains and flights.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the country’s state governors last month endorsed a three-step plan to end many remaining virus restrictions by March 20.
Shoppers are again allowed to enter nonessential stores without proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. The rules for visiting restaurants and bars also were relaxed, and limits on private gatherings of vaccinated people have been lifted.
Austria lifted all domestic COVID-19 restrictions from March 5, except masks on public transport and in essential shops. Austria further relaxed COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday, scrapping proof of vaccination or recent recovery as a requirement to enter shops and museums. People in the country can now enter these public places as long as they are wearing FFP2 masks.
Curbs on the number of people attending public events have also been eased. However, spectators will have to wear face masks at events such as football matches.
People in Austria, except Vienna, have been allowed back into restaurants since February 17, if they have tested negative. This rule applies to tourists as well.
Previously, only those vaccinated or recovered were allowed to dine out.
The French government has announced that a negative COVID-19 test was no longer required for vaccinated travellers arriving in the country. From Saturday, “proof of vaccination will be sufficient to come to France whatever country you are coming from, just as it was before the spread of the omicron variant,” a government statement said.
Norway is ditching almost all its remaining lockdown measures as high levels of COVID infections are unlikely to jeopardise its health system, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Saturday. The Nordic country will still keep some restrictions in place for the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
The new measures, which will come into effect from Saturday at 1000 CET (0900 GMT), include relaxing the one-metre apart rule while citizens will no longer have to wear face masks in crowded environments. The removal of these restrictions will enable nightclubs and other affected entertainment venues to reopen.
Moreover, infected individuals will no longer have to be isolated. Instead, they are recommended to stay home for four days. “We are removing almost all coronavirus measures,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a news conference. “The coronavirus pandemic is no longer a major health threat to most of us. The omicron virus causes far less serious illness, and we are well protected by vaccines.”
Lastly, Iceland has lifted all restrictions, so all travellers can enter the country regardless of their vaccination status. There are now “no disease prevention measures at the borders for passengers travelling to Iceland,” regardless of whether individuals are vaccinated or unvaccinated, authorities said.
Additionally, travellers no longer must provide proof of vaccination or prior infection and there are no restrictions on social gatherings or quarantine requirements for those infected by Covid-19.
Authorities in Iceland said 81 per cent of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated, with vaccinations for five-to-11-year-olds currently being administered.
Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, head of Visit Iceland, said: “We are happy to announce that there are now no restrictions at the borders or within the country.
Iceland has lifted all Covid-19-related restrictions. There are now “no disease prevention measures at the borders for passengers travelling to Iceland,” regardless of whether individuals are vaccinated or unvaccinated, authorities said.
Additionally, travellers no longer must provide proof of vaccination or prior infection and there are no restrictions on social gatherings or quarantine requirements for those infected by Covid-19 Authorities in Iceland said 81 per cent of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated, with vaccinations for five-to-11-year-olds currently being administered.
Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, head of Visit Iceland, said: “We are happy to announce that there are now no restrictions at the borders or within the country.
“Icelandic authorities have taken a measured approach to Covid-19 throughout the pandemic under the advice of medical experts and scientists. I feel confident that our revised protocols are a reasoned step in the right direction. We look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing all the wonders that Iceland has to offer.”
All of this good news comes at the end of a week where the number of new cases in Europe dropped by just 1% compared to the previous week. On the positive side, deaths in the region dropped 17% so we can all hope that this trend continues and those who want to travel will be able to do so without the restrictions we have seen over the past 2 years.
Until the next time Stay Safe.
Total Cases Worldwide – 450,993,531
Total Deaths Worldwide – 6,041,356
Total Recovered Worldwide – 385,411,389
Total Active Cases Worldwide – 59,540,786 (13.2 % of the total cases)
Total Closed Cases Worldwide – 391,452,745
Information and Resources:
https://www.worldometer.info/coronavirus/
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/weekly-trends/#countries
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/03/09/what-s-the-latest-on-european-travel-restrictions