Covid Restrictions Abroad: Updates & Observations

[Mojo]

Brazil has, for a second time, axed masks on planes again. They were reintroduced November 2022.

 

[island]

Japan is dropping its mask expectations – they were never law – on 13 March, except for schools which will change on 1 April and flights which will change on 8 May.

 

[Cdd89]

Japan is dropping its mask expectations – they were never law – on 13 March, except for schools which will change on 1 April and flights which will change on 8 May.

Given that they ran advertising campaigns imploring people not to wear masks outdoors, and during my visit 99% of people did so anyway, I suspect any movement by Japanese public health will be immaterial to the cultural expectations.

 

[ExRes]

Cruise ships would do better testing for norovirus, to be honest, as it causes them far more problems!

Starting with armed guards on the toilet doors, it's beyond comprehension just how many people don't know the basics of personal hygiene and then have the nerve to blame the cruise lines for Norovirus outbreaks

 

[danm14]

Travellers arriving in England from China on or after April 5th will not be required to have a negative test no more than 2 days before travel.

Voluntary testing on arrival in England from China has also ended, this is effective immediately.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-...ronavirus-covid-19#travel-from-mainland-china

The different rules for passengers travelling to England from mainland China will end 23:59 BST, 4 April 2023.

If your flight will arrive in England after this time, you will not need to show notification of a negative test to your airline before you travel. If you are travelling close to the date of the change, check whether your airline will expect you to have a negative test.

From 17 March 2023, passengers aged 18 or over travelling from mainland China and arriving at Heathrow Airport will no longer be invited to take a voluntary test on arrival.

 

[subk2010]

A mask is required on *all* public transport within Vienna (including long-distance trains, but there it is in effect unpoliced), and nowhere else in Austria once you cross the Viennese border.

The Viennese position is currently being evaluated and it is very possible it will be dropped soon.

Note that apart from public transport (in Vienna) and health institutions (hospitals etc), there are no obligations to wear masks in public life anymore.

The federal plan is to end all COVID-provisions by the end of June 2023, which means that then at the latest, the Viennese government will have to end the mask mandate.

Interestingly, in Vienna, it is now illegal to wear a mask on public transport unless certified by a doctor

 

[Class800]

Interestingly, in Vienna, it is now illegal to wear a mask on public transport unless certified by a doctor

That'll make Halloween a bit dull, lol

 

[superalbs]

Interestingly, in Vienna, it is now illegal to wear a mask on public transport unless certified by a doctor

Source?

 

[subk2010]

Source?

The 2017 anti-mask law.
“People wearing masks now face a fine of 150 euros”
https://poland.postsen.com/coronavirus/amp/212846

 

[island]

Interestingly, in Vienna, it is now illegal to wear a mask on public transport unless certified by a doctor

This is not correct.

https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/en/themen/leben_in_oesterreich/aufenthalt/Seite.120251.html states:

It is not an offence to cover your face in the following situations:...

when coverings are worn for health reasons
(such as to protect against infection, air pollution or weather-related factors)
for example wearing protective face masks that cover the mouth and nose, respiratory masks; Covering the face to protect it against frostbite

No requirement for a doctor certificate exists.

 

[Tester]

On Eurostar to Paris now, and slightly surprised to see that, according to the carriage display screens, mask wearing is required in trains and stations (must/obligatoire).

Actual mask wearing negligible (I haven't seen any but no doubt there are a few).

 

[Watershed]

On Eurostar to Paris now, and slightly surprised to see that, according to the carriage display screens, mask wearing is required in trains and stations (must/obligatoire).

Actual mask wearing negligible (I haven't seen any but no doubt there are a few).

Eurostar are woefully slow in updating their internal displays. I guess they just don't see it as a priority, because people will know that it's wrong and ignore it.

 

[xydancer]

Covid restrictions on public transport in Taiwan were finally lifted today, with masks no longer a legal requirement. Signage at MRT stations had completely vanished overnight, although it is still there on most buses.

Given that 90-95% of people still routinely wear one in the street (oddly, that percentage drops noticeably in theatres and cinemas), it was no surprise to find that pretty much everyone is still wearing them on the MRT and local buses. Not wearing one does not appear to be an issue with anyone, I hasten to add. I suspect that percentage will drop off noticeably when the hot summer weather comes, though. But even then, I wouldn't be surprised if it took a couple of years to get back to how things were.

Masks are still legally required in pharmacies and other healthcare settings.

 

[island]

From 12 May, visitors to the United States will no longer need to produce evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.

 

[bengley]

From 12 May, visitors to the United States will no longer need to produce evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.

Finally!

 

[43096]

From 12 May, visitors to the United States will no longer need to produce evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.

If your name is Novak Djokovic then you’re going to be happy with that!

 

[danm14]

From 12 May, visitors to the United States will no longer need to produce evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.

But, allegedly, the requirement for everyone aged six months and above to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to become a US permanent resident or citizen will remain indefinitely.

Although it should be noted that this is in addition to a large number of other vaccines, including the flu vaccine - rather than being a requirement for the COVID-19 vaccine alone.

 

[Watershed]

From 12 May, visitors to the United States will no longer need to produce evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.

Although only because the White House overruled the CDC. The CDC wanted to continue the mandate, despite 11 May officially being the "end of the pandemic emergency" in the US.

 

[Segedunum]

Couldn't help but notice in Greece that mask-wearing is a lot higher than I've seen elsewhere in Europe for a long time. Probably 15-20% or so on public transport.

Also a weird socially-distanced queue outside a pharmacy in Thessaloniki where it was clearly just one at a time allowed in.

Still lots of signage around demanding mask-wearing and Athens buses had the drivers cab covered by a plastic screen - but if there were any rules they weren't enforced.

 

[Zamalek]

Eurostar are woefully slow in updating their internal displays. I guess they just don't see it as a priority, because people will know that it's wrong and ignore it.

I suspect that facemask signs will still be in many places for another ten years ....

 

[island]

It appears the last few hold-outs on mask requirements on planes, Morocco and Hong Kong, have finally dropped their rules, in practice at least if not in theory.

 

[zero]

It appears the last few hold-outs on mask requirements on planes, Morocco and Hong Kong, have finally dropped their rules, in practice at least if not in theory.

Masks have not been required on planes in Hong Kong for the past 3 months.

 

[jamesontheroad]

It appears the last few hold-outs on mask requirements on planes, Morocco and Hong Kong, have finally dropped their rules, in practice at least if not in theory.

We flew in and out of Morocco in February and March, some of us on Royal Air Maroc and some on foreign airlines. No mask requirements then.

 

[jamieintercity]

What's the situation with face masks/covid restrictions in Tunisia right now. Due to go there on a TUI holiday for 2 weeks at the end of july

 

[Eyersey468]

What's the situation with face masks/covid restrictions in Tunisia right now. Due to go there on a TUI holiday for 2 weeks at the end of july

As far as I can tell they are required in airports and on flights and some other public places, though I can't currently find a definitive list of the places they are required.

Update I've just found an article from March that suggests they are no longer mandatory

 

[railfan99]

It appears the last few hold-outs on mask requirements on planes, Morocco and Hong Kong, have finally dropped their rules, in practice at least if not in theory.

AFAIK Philippines still requires this. For the life of me I don't know why.

 

[island]

AFAIK Philippines still requires this. For the life of me I don't know why.

The website philippines.travel does state masks are still needed on public transport and medical settings, but its last update was November 2022. Sherpa says they're optional everywhere.

I'm not planning on going there so it's academic.

 

[scragend]

I was on the Circumetnea railway last week and the train still had signs on the doors and on board saying masks were compulsory. But then again it also had a poster advertising a concert in December 2019!

Maybe the sticker peeler-offer will get round to them all one day.

 

[StephenHunter]

Poland got rid of the last bits of its mask mandates - pharmacies and healthcare settings - at the beginning of this month. I wore a mask when I popped into a pharmacy when I was in Warsaw in June, but I was the only one in there who did.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

I notice some of the riders and officials in the Tour de France are still wearing masks at the beginning and end of each stage. It seems all a bit pointless now, particularly as all the riders are sans masks passing through the huge crowds of spectators en route.