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SCMP’s Asia desk

Dozens of governments across the globe have restricted entry to foreign nationals as they attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, with many more urging their citizens to avoid all but non-essential travel.
Here is a list of what is happening where, updated at 6pm Hong Kong time on Wednesday, March 18.
Mainland China
People arriving from Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea to Beijing, Guangzhou, or Shanghai will have to go into quarantine for 14 days.
Last week Beijing announced a 14-day mandatory quarantine on all international travellers arriving in the Chinese capital, while business travellers will have to stay at designated hotels and be tested for the virus.
Hong Kong
Travellers arriving from any foreign country from Thursday will be put under 14-day home quarantine or medical surveillance. This does not apply to arrivals from Macau or Taiwan. Those arriving from mainland China had already been required to isolate at home since last month
This extends a red travel alert issued on the US, Britain and Ireland, with a 14-day quarantine period on all arrivals from these countries and Egypt.
Anyone who was in Hubei province or South Korea in the previous 14 days is denied entry, except citizens and residents. Those who have visited regions of Italy, France, Germany, Japan or Spain in the previous two weeks are subject to quarantine.
Macau
Macau is denying entry to anyone who has been to Hubei province in the last two weeks, while those who have visited South Korea, Italy, Iran, Germany, France, Spain or Japan in the previous 14 days will be under medical observation for two weeks.
Taiwan
Taiwan will ban its citizens from travelling to 44 countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa from Tuesday as it confirmed a surge of imported coronavirus infections in the past two days.
The self-ruled island had already barred its people from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, part of the US and Japan as well as 26 Schengen Europe countries and the UK. Taipei will also ban all non-Taiwan nationals from entering the island from March 19.


Australia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all non-citizens and non-residents would be barred from entering the country from March 20. Earlier, the government advised its citizens not to travel overseas indefinitely and imposed an immediate ban on non-essential indoor social gatherings of more than 100 people.
On March 15, Morrison announced a 14-day self-isolation for all international arrivals in Australia, including citizens and permanent residents. Visitors from mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy are denied entry or transit until 14 days after they were last in these countries.
New Zealand
New Zealand closed its borders to all foreigners from midnight on March 19. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that citizens and permanent residents can still return, but their options are running out as many commercial airlines are cancelling flights.
From March 16, all incoming passengers, including New Zealand citizens, will be required to isolate themselves for 14 days. The only countries exempt from the restrictions are a handful of Pacific islands that have not yet had any cases of Covid-19.
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Singapore
The city state announced on Sunday evening that 14-day “stay home” notices would be issued to arrivals from the other nine members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), as well as travellers from Britain, Japan and Switzerland.
The new measures are in part due to people travelling from other Asean countries to seek medical treatment in Singapore, but do not apply to the Malaysia-Singapore land border, across which an estimated 300,000 people move each day.
Malaysia
Malaysia has banned foreign travel. Arrivals from parts of China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy and Denmark are banned, while citizens returning home are required to self-quarantine at home for a period of 14 days.
The country implemented two-week partial lockdown, or restricted movement order, effective from March 18.
The Philippines
The country has banned any travellers from countries with local transmissions of the coronavirus from entry, except citizens and their families, permanent residents, and those with diplomatic visas.
Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from the National Capital Region, which includes Manila, is suspended until April 14, while mass gatherings have also been banned.
Indonesia
Any travellers who have visited China, parts of Italy, South Korea and Iran in the previous 14 days are denied entry or transit through Indonesia. This excludes citizens and permanent residents.
Indonesia updated this to prohibit the entry and transit of visitors from six European countries plus Iran from March 20.
For the next month, all travellers who wish to visit Indonesia will also have to obtain a health certificate from their home countries and must apply for a visa from Indonesian missions.
Cambodia
The health ministry will ban foreigners from Iran from entering Cambodia for 30 days, effective Wednesday.
The announcement came a day after the country announced a 30-day entry ban on foreign travellers from Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the United States that will take effect on Tuesday.
Thailand
All travellers to Thailand will have to now show authorities a health certificate, issued no more than 72 hours before travelling, confirming that they have been tested and are free from the virus. They must also present an insurance policy showing minimum coverage for coronavirus of not less than US$100,000.
This measure was previously a requirement for countries the Thai government classified as “disease infected zones” which include China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Italy and Iran. However, the Thai government has since expanded these measures to apply to all travellers.
The Thai New Year, or Songkran, between April 13 and 15 has been postponed, while schools, bars, cinemas, cockfighting arenas and other entertainment centres have been closed.


Vietnam
The country announced a 30-day ban on foreign travellers entering the country on Saturday, which will apply to visitors from 26 countries in Europe’s Schengen Area and Britain.
Anyone who has visited those countries within 14 days of arriving in Vietnam will also be barred from entering, the foreign ministry said.
Vietnam’s national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced it will suspend all international flights until the end of April.
South Korea
Travellers who have been to China’s Hubei province in the past 14 days are denied entry, and visas issued by the Wuhan consulate have been invalidated. Visas issued to Japanese passport holders have are also now invalid.
Visa-free entry to Jeju Island for all foreigners has been suspended.
A 14-day quarantine will be enforced on South Koreans returning from Europe and foreigners arriving from Europe for long-term stays.
Japan
Anyone who has been to affected areas in China, South Korea or Italy in the previous 14 days is banned from entering Japan. This excludes citizens and their families. This has been extended to include visitors from parts of Spain, Switzerland and all of Iceland.
Japan will ask travellers from 38 European and other countries, including Egypt and Iran, to self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival.
Sri Lanka
The country will ban all incoming flights for two weeks, from Wednesday evening. It had already suspended travel from Italy, Iran and South Korea.
India
The country has suspended all existing visas until April 15.
Passengers, including Indian citizens, on flights from the European Union, Turkey, Britain, the Philippines, Malaysia and Afghanistan will be barred.
Travellers coming from or transiting through the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine when they arrive. Arrivals from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany are already subject to similar restrictions, while many border points with neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar have been shut. India said it would ban all international commercial passenger flights from landing from March 22 for a week.
The Taj Mahal and at least 143 other major tourist sites have been closed for 30 days.

United States
The US has suspended travel from the UK and Ireland, after previously banning travel from the 26 countries in the Schengen Area free movement zone: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
In addition, those who have been in China or Iran in the previous two weeks are denied entry.
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada is closing its borders to travellers who are not citizens or permanent residents. US citizens are being exempted from the border ban on foreigners, for now.
Officials have urged all citizens abroad to return home while they still can. Those who have been to China’s Hubei province, Italy or Iran are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Russia
The Russian government says that it has decided to bar entry to all foreigners starting Wednesday.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced the decision Monday to deny entry to all foreign nationals starting from Wednesday until May 1. The decision will not apply to diplomats, foreigners permanently staying in Russia, plane and ship crews and truck drivers. 
Saudi Arabia
Those who have been to or transited through a number of countries and territories, including China, Taiwan, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey or the United Arab Emirates, are denied entry, except Saudi citizens.
Pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina are banned, unless pilgrims are from Gulf states and have obtained permits.
Turkey
Those who have visited or transited through Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, South Korea or Sweden in the previous two weeks are not allowed to enter or transit through Turkey.
Britain
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel to Italy, Spain the South Korean cities of Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan and much of Iran.
Ireland
Ireland’s government said it was unlikely to issue any new major restrictions on Monday after shutting down schools, universities and pubs in recent days. The government has also pleaded with citizens not to replace pub visits with house parties.

France
French President Emmanuel Macron said that “movements will be very strongly reduced” for 15 days starting at midday Tuesday. He says residents will only be permitted to leave their homes for necessary trips such as going to work or the supermarket. Trips between EU and non-EU countries will be suspended for 30 days.
Cafes, restaurants, cinemas and most shops are shut, as well as major tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower.
Germany
Germany imposed new limits on borders with France, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Luxembourg. Only those who have a “valid reason” such as work allowed to cross.
Spain
Europe’s second worst-hit country after Italy has announced a two-week state of emergency, with people banned from leaving home, except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work.
Italy
Italy began a nationwide lockdown on Monday, stopping all tourist arrivals at Alessandria, Asti, Lombardy, Modena, Novara, Padova, Parma, Pesaro and Urbino, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Treviso-Venice, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli airports.
Austria
Arrivals from Italy, China’s Hubei province, Iran and South Korea are banned.
Denmark
Denmark has closed its borders to all non-citizens from March 14 to April 13.
Czech Republic
The country sealed off several towns on Monday to combat the outbreak and banned people from moving around except for work, shopping and some other limited activities until March 24.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands has ordered all schools, day care centres, restaurants and bars to close until April 6. The new restrictions cover Amsterdam’s famed marijuana-selling “coffee shops” and sex clubs.
Greece
Greece will place all incoming travellers in quarantine for two weeks “regardless of nationality”. Those who do not abide by the regulations will face fines.
No new asylum seekers will be accepted for one month.
Montenegro
The tiny Balkan country of fewer than 700,000 people has no confirmed cases, but preemptively banned foreigners and ordered the closure of cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, fitness centers and playgrounds.
Georgia
Georgia will ban all foreigners from entering for two weeks from March 18.
Armenia
Armenia has declared a state of emergency until April 14. The borders with neighbouring Georgia and Iran will be closed. Foreigners from countries with a high incidence of coronavirus will be barred from entering, while Armenian citizens will be able to leave only by air. The transport of goods will continue.

Israel
Foreign nationals are banned from entering the country. The government will make an exception for foreigners who can prove they have a place where they can self quarantine for two weeks. However, that exception does not include foreign nationals from China, South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Egypt.
Kenya
Travellers from countries which have reported Covid-19 cases are not allowed in and all schools have been closed for three weeks.
Morocco
All international flights and ferry services have been suspended.
Cape Verde
The tropical Atlantic archipelago heavily dependent on tourism has banned flights from countries affected by coronavirus, the authorities announced.
South Africa
A national state of disaster was declared on Sunday, with some of Africa’s most drastic measures yet to curb the virus’ spread. All nationals from the US, UK, China, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Iran and Spain will be denied visas, while any foreigners who have visited a high-risk country in the past 20 days will also be refused entry. Travellers from medium-risk areas such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore will be required to undergo high-intensity screening.
Nigeria
Nigeria will from Friday ban entry to arrivals from 13 of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus epidemic. All countries on the list have more than 1,000 cases, and include the United States, Britain, Germany, China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.
“We urge the public to restrict all non-essential travel to these countries,” the country said, adding it was temporarily suspending the issuance of all visas on arrival.
Senegal
Senegal will suspend flights from seven European and North African countries, the government said on Monday, in the latest move by an African nation to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Flights to and from France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia will no longer run from Wednesday, Senegal’s Tourism Minister Alioune Sarr told a press conference on Monday.
Ivory Coast
The country is closing its borders for 15 days to all non-citizens travelling from countries where more than 100 infections have been detected.
Ghana
Ghana on Monday closed schools and banned public gatherings, as well as barring entry to non-citizens who have, within the last 14 days, been to a country that has recorded 200 or more cases.
Chad
Chad said it would close its airports to all countries for two weeks from midnight on Thursday, though it has yet to record a coronavirus case.
Costa Rica
All foreigners are barred from entering the island until April 12. The ban applies to air, land and sea arrivals.
Dominican Republic
All flights to and from Europe, China, Korea and Iran are suspended. The ban went into effect March 16 and lasts for one month. The country has also suspended all cruise arrivals.
Cuba
Cuba is restricting foreigners from entering the island nation for a month. It said it is not closing its borders, as citizens and those working or studying in Cuba will be allowed in, but it will regulate the entrance of foreigners. Borders and airspace will remain open.
Argentina
All foreigners who are not residents of Argentina are banned from entering the country until April 1.
Bolivia
All flights to and from Europe are suspended.
Brazil
Foreigners coming from China, the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and South Korea will be denied entry to the South American country for the next 30 days. Brazil is also closing its borders with most of its neighbouring countries. In Latin America, Colombia and Panama announced that they would ban all international flights for 30 days. Other countries such as Peru, Ecuador and El Salvador have already implemented similar measures.
Reporting by DPA, Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg


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epa08299168 Lufthansa planes stand at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, 16 March 2020. Due to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak, a large number of flights have been cancelled. Germany has so far reported over 6,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases. EPA-EFE/THORSTEN WAGNER

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Here is a list of countries that have enforced travel restrictions to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus


Here is a list of countries that have enforced travel restrictions to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.


Planning to travel soon? This is how coronavirus will affect your plans

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Here is a list of countries that have enforced travel restrictions to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus

Here is a list of countries that have enforced travel restrictions to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus