By / ScenicSpots.com Fresh News Reporting
Recently, the COVID-19 outbreak in the US has intensified, spreading from the initially hard-hit Seattle to all states across the country, with confirmed cases even emerging in Washington, D.C.; Thailand has announced the suspension of visa on arrival and visa-free entry for multiple countries and regions. Many countries have also upgraded their travel advisories due to the pandemic, and those still planning to travel abroad should pay extra attention.
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As the COVID-19 outbreak in the US expands, President Trump announced new epidemic prevention measures on March 12 and stated that a 30-day flight ban to Europe would be further implemented. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. reported 6 new confirmed cases on the 12th and has declared a state of emergency.
The COVID-19 situation in Europe has rapidly escalated recently. In addition to Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, where travel advisories and epidemic warnings had already been elevated, neighboring countries have also seen a significant increase in cases, with the affected area continuing to expand. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently assessed the infection risk, cluster risk, and the likelihood of widespread sustained transmission in the EU region and the UK over the coming weeks as moderate to high.
The following is a list of countries where the travel epidemic level has been raised:
Upgraded to Level 1: Watch
Greece, Czech Republic, Portugal, Finland, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom, Ireland (16 countries in total)
Upgraded to Level 2: Alert
Europe: Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria
Middle East: Bahrain and Kuwait
Travelers entering from these countries must undergo 14 days of self-health management. Thailand also announced on the 11th the suspension of visa on arrival for 19 countries, including China, Russia, Bhutan, Romania, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. It also canceled visa exemption for Italy, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Taiwanese officials expressed respect and understanding for the decision.