Novel Coronavirus

(COVID-19)

16 April 2020
 LATEST UPDATES FOR 16 April 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic
on 11 March. The outbreak has had a severe impact on international travel; disruptions to flights
and other modes of transport as well as lockdowns and movement restrictions have taken place
with little to no prior warning. Anyone undertaking travel at this time should ensure they are in
good health, exercise good hygiene practices and be prepared for unexpected disruptions to their
travel plans. Travellers from affected countries may face mandatory quarantine at their
destination. Reconfirm itineraries prior to departure and closely follow travel alerts and
advisories. During travel to any destination and for up to 14 days after returning, individuals
should monitor themselves for any flu-like symptoms - especially fever or shortness of breath. If
experiencing any symptoms, travellers should self-isolate and contact their doctor or local
authorities.

Travellers should defer non-essential travel to Extreme Risk locations, which have
severely restricted inbound, outbound and internal travel, near-complete disruptions to
services and other activities and have widespread ongoing transmission.

Travellers should reconsider their need to travel to High Risk locations, which have
significant restrictions to inbound and internal travel and significant disruptions to services
and other activities. These locations may or may not have widespread ongoing transmission.

Travellers should exercise caution when travelling to Medium Risk locations, which have
some restrictions to travel, disruptions to services and other activities and have limited
ongoing transmission.
 COVID-19 RISK LEVEL EXTREME
▪ Andorra ▪ France ▪ Netherlands ▪ United Arab ▪ USA (hotspots: New
▪ Belgium ▪ Germany ▪ San Marino Emirates: Dubai York City, Detroit,
▪ Brazil ▪ Iran ▪ Spain ▪ United Kingdom Chicago, New Orleans,
▪ Ecuador: Guayaquil ▪ Italy ▪ Turkey Miami, Washington D.C.
and Boston)
COVID-19 RISK LEVEL HIGH
▪ Afghanistan ▪ China ▪ Guinea-Bissau ▪ Montenegro ▪ Slovakia
▪ Albania ▪ Colombia ▪ Guyana ▪ Morocco ▪ Slovenia
▪ Algeria ▪ Comoros ▪ Haiti ▪ Namibia ▪ Solomon Islands
▪ Angola ▪ Congo- ▪ Honduras ▪ Nepal ▪ Somalia
▪ Antigua and Brazzaville ▪ Hungary ▪ New Caledonia ▪ South Africa
Barbuda ▪ Costa Rica ▪ Iceland ▪ New Zealand ▪ South Korea
▪ Argentina ▪ Côte d'Ivoire ▪ India ▪ Niger ▪ South Sudan
▪ Armenia ▪ Croatia ▪ Indonesia ▪ Nigeria ▪ Sri Lanka
▪ Aruba ▪ Curaçao ▪ Iraq ▪ North Macedonia ▪ St. Kitts and Nevis
▪ Australia ▪ Cyprus ▪ Ireland ▪ Norway ▪ St. Lucia
▪ Austria ▪ Czech Republic ▪ Israel ▪ Oman ▪ Sudan
▪ Azerbaijan ▪ DRC ▪ Jamaica ▪ Pakistan ▪ Suriname
▪ Bahamas ▪ Denmark ▪ Jordan ▪ Palau ▪ Svalbard and Jan
▪ Bahrain ▪ Djibouti ▪ Kazakhstan ▪ Panama Mayen
▪ Bangladesh ▪ Dominica ▪ Kenya ▪ Papua New ▪ Sweden
▪ Barbados ▪ Dominican ▪ Kingdom of Guinea ▪ Switzerland
▪ Belize Republic eSwatini ▪ Paraguay ▪ Syria
▪ Benin ▪ East Timor ▪ Kosovo ▪ Peru ▪ Tajikistan
▪ Bermuda ▪ Ecuador ▪ Kuwait ▪ Philippines ▪ Tanzania
▪ Bolivia ▪ Egypt ▪ Kyrgyzstan ▪ Poland ▪ Togo
▪ Bonaire, Sint ▪ El Salvador ▪ Laos ▪ Portugal ▪ Tonga
Eustatius and ▪ Equatorial ▪ Latvia ▪ Puerto Rico ▪ Trinidad and Tobago
Saba Guinea ▪ Lebanon ▪ Qatar ▪ Tunisia
▪ Bosnia- ▪ Eritrea ▪ Lesotho ▪ Reunion ▪ Turkmenistan
Herzegovina ▪ Estonia ▪ Liberia ▪ Romania ▪ Turks and Caicos
▪ Botswana ▪ Fiji ▪ Libya ▪ Russia ▪ Uganda
▪ British Virgin ▪ Finland ▪ Liechtenstein ▪ Rwanda ▪ Ukraine
Islands ▪ French Guiana ▪ Lithuania ▪ Saint Barthelemy ▪ United Arab Emirates
▪ Brunei ▪ French Polynesia ▪ Luxembourg ▪ Saint Martin ▪ US Virgin Islands
▪ Bulgaria ▪ Gabon ▪ Madagascar ▪ Sao Tome & ▪ Uzbekistan
▪ Burkina Faso ▪ Georgia ▪ Malawi Principe ▪ Vanuatu
▪ Burundi ▪ Ghana ▪ Malaysia ▪ Saudi Arabia ▪ Venezuela
▪ Cameroon ▪ Gibraltar ▪ Maldives ▪ Senegal ▪ Vietnam
▪ Canada ▪ Greece ▪ Mali ▪ Serbia ▪ West Bank and Gaza
▪ Cape Verde ▪ Greenland ▪ Martinique ▪ Seychelles ▪ Yemen
▪ Cayman Islands ▪ Grenada ▪ Mauritania ▪ Sierra Leone ▪ Zambia
▪ CAR ▪ Guadeloupe ▪ Mauritius ▪ Singapore ▪ Zimbabwe
▪ Chad ▪ Guatemala ▪ Monaco ▪ Sint Maarten
▪ Chile ▪ Guinea ▪ Mongolia
COVID-19 RISK LEVEL MEDIUM
▪ American Samoa ▪ Cuba ▪ Japan ▪ Moldova ▪ Samoa
▪ Belarus ▪ Ethiopia ▪ Kiribati ▪ Mozambique ▪ St. Vincent and the
▪ Bhutan ▪ Faroe Islands ▪ Macau ▪ Myanmar Grenadines
▪ Cambodia ▪ Gambia ▪ Malta ▪ Nauru ▪ Taiwan
▪ Cocos (Keeling) ▪ Guam ▪ Marshall Islands ▪ Nicaragua ▪ Thailand
Islands ▪ Hong Kong ▪ Mexico ▪ North Korea ▪ Tuvalu
▪ Cook Islands ▪ Uruguay
SIGNIFICANT UPDATES FROM THE PAST WEEK

▪ Australian PM Scott Morrison announced that current movement restrictions in the country will
be in place for at least another four weeks, until mid-May.

▪ As of 15 April, the global number of confirmed infections surpassed two million cases, with over
126,000 deaths recorded.

▪ President Donald Trump announced that the US will withhold funding for the World Health
Organisation (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

▪ India extended a nationwide lockdown until at least 3 May. France announced that its lockdown
would continue until 11 May, but then would begin returning to 'normal life'.

▪ On 12 April, the United Kingdom surpassed China in total number of confirmed infections, with
over 84,000 cases and at least 10,600 fatalities recorded from it.

▪ All 50 US states were under disaster declarations as of 12 April, the first time this has happened in
the country’s history. Disaster declarations were also in place for Washington D.C. and several
other US territories.

▪ On 12 April, Russia reported 2,186 new cases, its largest daily increase, bringing the total number
of cases to 15,770.

▪ South Korean officials ordered all individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or were
suspected of having it to wear an electronic tracking bracelet to ensure compliance with official
orders; those who violate quarantine orders can face up to a year in prison or fines of up to USD
8,200.

▪ Israeli officials announced that public transportation will be resumed from 12 April following the
relaxation of lockdown measures but international flights will remain suspended.

▪ Saudi Arabia announced a ceasefire in the Yemeni Civil War due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with
the border between the two countries closed until further notice.

▪ On 9 April, President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, was placed under mandatory 14-day
quarantine along with his entire cabinet and all other members of parliament after the health
professional who was screening lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19.
CONFIRMED CASES
The following table represents locally confirmed cases in countries with more than 6,000 infections.

Note that the World Health Organisation (WHO) uses stricter criteria to confirm infections, and their case
count will typically be lower.

COUNTRY CONFIRMED CASES CONFIRMED FATALITIES

Worldwide 2,100,149 136,044
United States of America 644,417 28,559
Spain 182,816 19,130
Italy 165,155 21,645
France 147,863 17,167
Germany 134,753 3,804
United Kingdom 98,476 12,868
China 82,341 3,342
Iran 77,995 4,869
Turkey 69,392 1,518
Belgium 34,809 4,857
Netherlands 29,214 3,315
Brazil 29,015 1,760
Canada 28,379 1,010
Russia 27,938 232
Switzerland 26,422 1,269
Portugal 18,841 629
Austria 14,412 393
Israel 12,591 140
Ireland 12,547 444
Sweden 12,540 1,333
India 12,456 423
Peru 11,475 254
South Korea 10,613 229
Japan 8,626 178
Chile 8,271 94
Ecuador 7,858 388
Poland 7,771 292
Romania 7,707 392
Pakistan 6,919 128
Denmark 6,879 321
Norway 6,798 150
Australia 6,468 63
Czech Republic 6,303 166
WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE TRAVELLING
As the coronavirus outbreak has taken on a global dimension and the WHO has declared it a pandemic,
most countries around the world have taken steps to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.
Travellers should expect health screening measures - from non-invasive temperature screening to a full
COVID-19 test involving nasal and throat swabs - at points of entry that remain open. Travellers may be
quarantined until test results are complete.

Visibly ill travellers or those suspected of having the virus are likely to be interviewed and may be
required to fill out health declaration forms to allow for a proper risk assessment and possible contact
tracing; in some cases the visibly ill will be prevented from travelling altogether. Travellers displaying
symptoms, including a fever, cough or difficulty breathing; those with a potential exposure to the virus;
and those testing positive for COVID-19 are likely to be isolated at the point of entry before being
transferred to a designated quarantine or healthcare facility for further assessment and treatment.
Those deemed healthy that are allowed to enter may still be required to monitor their health daily and
report it to local authorities by phone or through an app.

Where flights still operate, an increasing number of countries have implemented a mandatory 14-day
quarantine, either at home or at a designated facility, for all arrivals regardless of nationality, symptoms
or recent travel history. In some locations, this quarantine has been extended to 28 days. Elsewhere,
authorities have implemented similar quarantine measures for travellers arriving from countries with a
high number of COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, a growing number of countries have either banned all
foreign nationals or restricted entry for passengers who have recently been to coronavirus-affected
destinations.

SECURITY RISKS
There are related risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic which may manifest as the crisis evolves
in certain countries.

Service Disruptions: The infection of essential workers and measures to prevent the spread of the virus
in critical sectors of the economy have the potential to cause both short- and long-term impacts on
critical services and infrastructure. In a worse-case scenario, this could cause disruptions to essential
services such as drinking water, electricity and food production and distribution. The risk of looting and
other unrest sparked by poor service delivery increases as the virus spreads.

Strikes: In addition to service disruptions caused directly by the outbreak, workers may strike or
participate in other forms of labour action. Warehouse, delivery and healthcare workers have already
walked off the job in several countries over a lack of protective equipment and other work conditions.
Further strikes are certain and carry the potential to disrupt essential services.

Protests and Unrest: Some populations may respond with hostility to prolonged movement controls -
such as curfews or household lockdowns - invasive government tracking or the economic impact of
COVID-19-related measures. Likewise, proposals for temporary treatment and isolation facilities or the
burial of COVID-19 fatalities have led to protests by local residents. Further unrest directed at authorities
and symbols of the government is possible and may have a negative impact on containment of the virus.

Since the start of the outbreak, protests have erupted in Kazakhstan, Egypt, Somalia, Côte d'Ivoire,
Brazil, Haiti, Ukraine, Papua New Guinea, Chile, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Israel, Iraq, Kenya,
Colombia, Lebanon, Honduras, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries over
governments' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly over the distribution of food and medical
care within communities facing shortages as well as by religious groups demanding to reopen houses of
worship to the public.

Terrorism: Anti-government and other extremist individuals or groups may attempt to carry out attacks
targeting symbols of the state – including politicians, government infrastructure or military personnel –
or health workers and medical infrastructure in response to actual or perceived government overreach
during the pandemic.

Xenophobic Attacks: Violence directed at foreigners perceived to be responsible for the outbreak of the
disease is increasingly likely over time. In the initial stages, anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiment and
physical attacks were reported globally. As the outbreak shifted to Europe, attacks against perceived
Europeans were reported, specifically in some African countries. As the outbreak has grown in the United
States (US), similar hate crimes targeting Asian-Americans have been reported.

Fraud and Scams: Criminals may attempt to exploit the pandemic as an opportunity to profit through
scams, phishing attacks, malware and other forms of fraud. Indeed, approximately 3,600 new internet
domains containing the word "coronavirus" were created between 14 and 18 March alone. Common
scams involving soliciting donations for medical supplies through email and fake fines sent by text
message for violating lockdown.

Take common sense precautions for digital security, including verifying URLs and the source of message
attachments before opening them.

Surveillance: There is a possibility of increased surveillance of individuals and the general public.
Personal information may be disclosed to the public, especially for those who are diagnosed with the
virus. Exercise discretion in deciding to communicate sensitive or personal information through
electronic devices.

Targeting Vulnerable Groups: Using the COVID-19 outbreak as a pretext, governments may attempt to
target vulnerable groups – minorities, LGBTQ+ community, journalists, opposition politicians and
activists – in arrests or violent attacks.

Severe Weather and Natural Disasters: Preparations for and response to natural disasters are
complicated by the COVID-19 outbreak; authorities must update plans and respond in ways that reduce
the risk of transmission. Those affected by evacuation orders or forced to seek communal shelter
following a disaster may be at higher risk of contracting the virus as some distancing measures - such as
'stay at home' - may not be possible.