SUPER-SPREADER EVENT
Austria ruled not liable for early COVID outbreak
An Austrian federal court said last week that the state can’t be held liable for a COVID-19 infection from an outbreak at an Alpine ski resort as the pandemic hit Europe in early 2020. MORE
SAYS WHO
COVID emergency officially over
The World Health Organization says the coronavirus pandemic “no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.” COVID-19 does, however, remain an “established and ongoing health issue.” MORE
US TRAVEL WELCOMES MOVE TO DROP VACCINE MANDATE
The US Travel Association says the US Senate’s passage of a bill to terminate the government’s COVID-19 emergency declaration – and repeal vaccine requirements for visitors – will provide a much-needed boost for travel for the country. MORE
CANADA ENDS PRE-TESTING REQUIREMENT FROM CHINA
Air travellers to Canada on flights originating from the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao are no longer required to provide evidence of a COVID-19 test result before boarding. MORE
After a three-year halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, China is at last reopening its borders to tourists and has resumed issuing all visas effective today. China is one of the last major countries to reopen its borders to tourists and has been one of the most restrictive regimes in the world during the global health crisis, which is believed to have originated in the city of Wuhan in late 2019. MORE
THREE YEARS LATER – DID THE VIRUS WIN?
Saturday marked three years since the World Health Organization first called the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and the United Nation’s health organization said it’s not yet ready to say the emergency has ended. MORE
MASKS LIFTED, SMILES RETURN TO HONG KONG
Hong Kong lifted its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city’s last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s chief executive, John Lee, said masks are no longer be required for residents or travellers both outdoors and indoors, including on public transit. MORE
‘THE FINAL PIECE’
China re-opening heralds tourism recovery
The UN World Tourism Organization has heralded the re-opening of China as “the final piece in tourism’s recovery” from the biggest crisis in the sector’s history. Before the pandemic, China was the largest source market for tourism in the world. MORE
BUSINESS TRAVEL LOOKING UP
Bookings, spending and optimism on the upswing
Global business travel is forecast to see an uptick in 2023 versus 2022. Companies are expected to send more employees on trips and travel suppliers anticipate an increase in corporate travel spending. Sectors such as finance, insurance, professional services, and consulting are showing stronger signs of growth in travel spending. Despite potential economic challenges and uncertainty surrounding the post-COVID return of China − the world’s largest business travel market – the industry remains optimistic about continued recovery and employees’ willingness to travel for work. MORE
BUT WILL IT WORK? Canadians strongly support China testing
Data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds a majority of Canadians supportive of testing requirements for travellers coming from China, but are nevertheless unsure if it will be effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in their country. MORE
MASKS ON FLIGHTS? WHO issues new recommendations as COVID variant spreads
The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging passengers wear masks on long haul flights. The recommendation, made last week, follows the rapid spread of the latest Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 in the US. MORE
CHINA OUTBREAK NO THREAT – YET
The director of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Tuesday that the agency sees “no immediate threat” from a COVID-19 outbreak in China, but more information is needed. China is battling a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions. MORE
CHINA AIMS TO KEEP LID ON OUTBREAK DURING TRAVEL RUSH
With more than 2 billion Chinese expected to travel for the Lunar New Year this month, China is seeking to minimize the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak following the end of most pandemic containment measures. MORE
‘POLITICS NOT SCIENCE’
China test won’t make us safer, expert warns
Starting Jan. 5, the federal government will require air travellers aged two and older coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macao to test negative for COVID-19 before leaving for Canada. However, experts say the move will not help in preventing new variants or the spread of the virus. MORE
FEW TRAVELLERS PAID COVID FINES IN 2022
Canadians who were caught violating federal COVID-19 quarantine rules racked up at least $15 million in fines in 2022, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, but it's not clear how much of that will actually be paid. MORE
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
China ends quarantine for foreign travellers
Foreign companies welcomed China's decision to end quarantines for travellers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity while Japan on Tuesday joined India in announcing restrictions on visitors from the country as infections surge. MORE
COVID FEARS SUBSIDE FOR TRAVELLERS
For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, traveller fears about COVID are dramatically subsiding, according to the Global Rescue Fall 2022 Traveller Safety and Sentiment Survey, which says the biggest fear or concern about international travel among experienced travellers is having an injury or illness – but not a COVID-related illness. MORE
DO TRAVELLERS IGNORE COVID?
Nine in 10 say yes
An overwhelming majority of people have been travelling while knowing they have COVID-19, according to research released at the recent World Travel Market in London. MORE
PRETTY PLEASE!
Feds advise travellers to mask up again
Canada's Minister of Transport says after a briefing with the country's top doctor, the government still strongly encourages people to wear masks on planes and trains – but stopped short of making it a requirement. MORE
CHINA REDUCES TRAVELLER QUARANTINE DESPITE COVID SURGE
Travellers arriving in China will now spend less time in quarantine – five days instead of seven – under changes to sweeping anti-virus controls announced Friday. The announcement came even as an upsurge in COVID-19 cases prompted Beijing to close parks and impose other restrictions. MORE