EIG COVID-19 Update | August 7, 2020

With our mission to uncomplicate the complicated, we’ve always thought of our work in immigration as people-first. Our goal is for these emails to make sense of the changes happening across the world. Please share these updates with your colleagues who may find this information helpful, too.

 

International Updates

Australia | Melbourne will resume a six-week total lockdown, closing non-essential shops and business centers.
Case Update: 418 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/07 4:00 PM CEST

Malta | The government has banned large gatherings and is requiring people to wear masks in public to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Case Update: 4 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/07 4:00 PM CEST

Nigeria | After reopening the country’s domestic air travel last month, in the coming weeks, Nigeria will resume international travel. International travel has been suspended since March.
Case Update: 354 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/07 4:00 PM CEST

Norway | Health minister Bent Howie has issued an advisory for Norwegians to avoid all travel abroad. Beginning Saturday, travelers from France, the Czech Republic, Monaco, regions of Sweden, and Switzerland will have to self-quarantine for ten days.
Case Update: 47 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/07 4:00 PM CEST

The United Kingdom | The government has added Andorra, the Bahamas, and Belgium to the list of countries from where travelers will need to self-quarantine for 14 days. Brunei and Malaysia were added to the list of UK-travel friendly countries.
Case Update: 950 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/07 4:00 PM CEST

The United States | On Thursday afternoon, the US State Department (DOS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lifted the global travel advisories that recommended US citizens avoid ALL international travel. The advisory had been in place since March 19.

Nearly all countries remain at a Level 3, to continue to avoid non-essential travel. However, DOS has issued individual lower level (1 and 2) advisories for Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Antarctica, Brunei, Fiji, French Polynesia, Mauritius, New Caledonia, New Zealand, and Thailand.

The CDC has also lowered the global advisory, which advised against all non-essential international travel.
Case Update: 53,373 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/07 4:00 PM CEST

In this week’s Immigration Nerds podcast, journalist and author Jessica Goudeau meets us at the mic to talk about her new book, After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America.

Immigrants and refugees have been central to America’s identity for centuries—yet America has periodically turned its back at the times of greatest humanitarian need.

After the Last Border is an intimate look at the lives of two refugee women as they struggle for the 21st century American dream in Austin, Texas. This story goes beyond policy and politics to introduce us to the people.