EIG COVID-19 Update | April 17, 2020

With our mission to uncomplicate the complicated, we’ve always thought of our work in immigration as people-first. We hope these updates help to make sense of the changes happening across the world.

Brazil | President Jair Bolsonaro fired the country’s health minister after disagreements about how to mitigate the spreading coronavirus. Mr. Bolsonaro has called for states to end their stay-at-home orders to kickstart the economy.

“We need to return to normal, not as fast as possible, but we need to start having some flexibility,” Bolsonaro said.
Case Update: 3,058 new cases, 1,226 daily change, Last updated: 2020/4/17, 7:00 PM CEST

Georgia | Beginning today through April 21, transportation in private vehicles is banned; public transit is already closed. The country is under a state of emergency until May 10 and has a curfew from 9 PM to 6 AM.
Case Update: 34 new cases, 4 daily change, Last updated: 2020/4/17, 7:00 PM CEST

Slovenia | Beginning on Monday, the government will step down the restrictions in place since the middle of March. Stores will reopen on April 20, schools universities, and cultural institutions and public transportation remain closed.
Case Update: 20 new cases, -8 daily change, Last updated: 2020/4/17, 7:00 PM CEST

The UK | Dominic Raab, standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recovers from COVID-19, extended the nationwide lockdown for at least three more weeks.
“We have just come too far, we’ve lost too many loved ones, we’ve already sacrificed far too much to ease up now, especially when we are beginning to see the evidence that our efforts are starting to pay off,” he told reporters.

The UK has been under lockdown since March 23, and in the press conference, medical advisors said the country had reduced the rate of transmission to below 1, indicating their efforts are working.
Case Update: 4,617 new cases, 14 daily change, Last updated: 2020/4/17, 7:00 PM CEST

The US | At the daily coronavirus press conference, President Donald Trump outlined the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. The three-phased approach is presented as guidelines for state and local officials to follow when they begin to reopen ease down restrictions.

According to Whitehouse.gov, decision making is based on up-to-date data and readiness. It is designed to “mitigate [the] risk of resurgence, protect the most vulnerable, and is implementable on statewide or county-by-county basis at the governors’ discretion.”
Case Update: 28,711 new cases, 2,909 daily change, Last updated: 2020/4/17, 7:00 PM CEST

Viet Nam | As a result of the recent social distancing measure extension to April 22, the immigration department remains closed. Visas and temporary residence cards set to expire during this time will not be considered overstays.

The suspension of entry visa issuance is extended until at least April 30.
Case Update: 1 new case, 1 daily change, Last updated: 2020/4/17, 7:00 PM CEST