New coronavirus stain brings strict lockdown effect in London Several European countries placed new restrictions on travel to and from the United Kingdom on Sunday due to concern over a new strain of the coronavirus that is spreading rapidly there. Whereas, London and southeast England may stay under tighter coronavirus curbs for some time, Britain’s health minister suggested, adding that dropping plans to ease restrictions for Christmas was needed to stem a fast-spreading new strain. Belgium said it would close its borders to trains and planes coming from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands also suspended flights. Italy said it was planning a similar ban. A passenger walks at Fiumicino airport after the Italian government announced all flights to and from the UK will be suspe...
Read MoreTag: Coronavirus
Singapore is to allow a limited number of business, official and other “high economic value” travellers from around the world under a “bubble” arrangement that offers a glimpse into what visitors for this year’s relocated Davos summit might expect. The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) will make its debut in Asia in May after being moved from its usual home in the Swiss ski resort of Davos over coronavirus safety concerns. FILE PHOTO: A view of a cordoned off area at the Merlion Park is seen amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Singapore. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Singapore’s borders have been largely shut for most of 2020 as part of strict rules to keep out a virus still raging across the globe, and it faces challenges hosting an event that usually attracts thou...
Read MoreThe exotic animals are confined to small paddocks, the acrobats have been grounded, and the clowns aren’t able to make an audience laugh anymore. The coronavirus has brought the curtain down on the Zavatelli Circus, at least for the time being. Unable to travel or perform across Europe, the French family-run operation is waiting out the pandemic in a car park in the southern Belgium town of Gembloux - and quickly running out of funds to feed its animals. An employee of the Zavatelli Circus owned by the French family Dubois, walks with a camel in a parking lot in Gembloux, Belgium November 26, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman “For us, the confinement is very difficult because we are not working. We have no cash flow,” said circus director Kevin Dubois. The Zavatelli Circus typicall...
Read MoreGermany wants Alpine countries to keep ski resorts closed to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, but reaching an agreement with neighbouring Austria is proving difficult, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday. “The ski season is approaching. We will be trying to coordinate in Europe whether we could close all ski resorts,” Merkel told parliament, adding that this might not be possible given resistance from Austria, but Germany would try again. In the first wave of the coronavirus at the start of the year, many Germans were infected at the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl. Germany last month issued travel warnings for popular ski regions in Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Interestingly, in September this year a consumer rights group had taken a legal action against the Austr...
Read MoreFor tourism industry it was the one of the last bastions standing, but is it now fallen! Fears have definitely emerged as the magical island nation—often dubbed as a paradise for its untouched beauty—has now seen its first case of coronavirus, almost ten months after it first originated in China. The Solomon Islands was one of the last countries left without Coronavirus. This has now changed. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has confirmed the previously COVID-19-free country has recorded its first positive case of the virus. The Solomon Islands are an archipelago of 992 tropical islands and atolls, scattered in a gentle curve. They comprise two major parallel island chains extending some 1800 kilometres from the Shortland Islands in the west to Tikopia a...
Read MoreSaudi Arabia plans to resume tourist visas by early 2021 after months of suspension amid strict government measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the kingdom’s tourism minister has said. Tourism is a key pillar of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious reform strategy to reduce the economy’s dependence on oil. The kingdom, which opened its doors to foreign tourists in September 2019 by launching a new visa regime for 49 countries, wants the sector to contribute 10% of gross domestic product by 2030. “For tourist visa, until now we are talking about early next year. If things get better or if any positive developments happen with regards to the vaccine, we might accelerate and have it earlier,” Ahmed al-Khateeb said in a virtual interview. In late-Februa...
Read MoreA cruise ship carrying about 920 passengers and sailing off the Greek island of Milos was likely to dock at Piraeus port later on Monday after 12 of its crew members were found to be positive for the coronavirus an official at Greece’s Civil Protection agency said. The Mein Shiff 6 cruiser, operated by TUI Cruises, departed from Crete on Sunday evening with all passengers having tested coronavirus-negative before boarding. But sample tests on 150 crew members out of a total of 666, detected 12 infections. “They are all asymptomatic. There are PCR test kits on board. The vessel will most likely return to Piraeus port for repeat rapid COVID-19 tests,” an official at the Civil Protection Agency said. The crew found COVID-19 positive has been already segregated on the ship, th...
Read MoreWith borders closed, South Africa pins hopes on cash-strapped local tourists
Lisa Krohn’s Ashanti Lodge in Cape Town - normally abuzz with backpackers from around the world - today sits largely empty, a sign of how the pandemic has crushed South Africa’s tourist industry. “This place is like a morgue,” she said, contemplating the Victorian-era building’s deserted foyer. Following a five-month lockdown, South Africa is easing domestic travel restrictions, allowing hotels to reopen. With international borders still closed, the government is pinning its hopes on domestic tourism, echoing a strategy being tried from Vietnam to New Zealand with mixed results. A shopkeeper awaits visitors at the Table Mountain cableway station, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Cape Town, South Africa, , August 22, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings South Afric...
Read MoreAll religious places in Rajasthan will reopen for public from September 7, months after they were closed due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, an official statement said on Wednesday. The decision was taken during a review meeting on the coronavirus situation in the state chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Srinath Mandir at Udaipur Social distancing norms will have to be followed and all religious places will be sanitised from time to time, the statement said. District collectors and superintendents of police will carry out inspections and ensure all safety measures are taken, it said. Gehlot instructed officials to ensure that health protocols are followed properly and there is no crowding at these places, according to the statement. The chief minister also directed offi...
Read MoreIs Europe expected to bring itself back on track by easing out restrictions on cross-border travel, then the dream has perhaps shattered prematurely. After EU decided to open its borders on 30th June, month of July was all about opening up to more and more countries by EU as well as non-EU nations. But as came August, tables were turned and it was chaos and confusion all over, which continues to grow with every passing day. If this summer was supposed to offer hope that coronavirus was under control in Europe, spikes in cases across the continent and ensuing travel chaos have given governments a worrying reality check. From France to Ukraine, the number of positive tests for Covid-19 is rising sharply as more people seek vacations and as lockdown measures are eased to allow citizens to...
Read More
You must be logged in to post a comment.