EIG COVID-19 Update | July 29, 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

Greece | From Saturday, Greece’s ports in Athens, Rhodes, Heraklion on Crete, Volos, Corfu, and Katakolon will reopen to cruise ships, a boon for Greece’s tourism economy.
Case Update: 52 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/29 5:00 PM CEST

Italy | Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has asked parliament to extend the state of emergency.

“The virus continues to evolve and has not run its course. It would be incongruous to abruptly suspend such an effective measure,” Conte told the Senate.
Case Update: 202 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/29 5:00 PM CEST

Portugal | From August 1, masks will be mandatory in public on the island of Madeira.
Case Update: 111 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/29 5:00 PM CEST

Spain | The Madrid regional government will make face masks mandatory in all public areas, limiting the number of people who can congregate in an area.
Case Update: 905 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/29 5:00 PM CEST

Vietnam | In the capital city Hanoi, the government has ordered bars and pubs to close and prohibited large gatherings. The government has also suspended flights in and out of Danang for 15 days, stopped trains, and canceled public transport in and out of the city.
Case Update: 15 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/7/29 5:00 PM CEST

In last week’s Immigration Nerds podcast, we talked about the impact of ICE modifying the SEVP temporary exemptions to restrict international students from online courses amid COVID-19 and the agency’s reversal. However, we didn’t get a chance to discuss the vital role international students play in the university system, and how they drive innovation. We’re proud to welcome Senior Vice President of Research at Emory University, Dr. Deborah Watkins Bruner for a faculty perspective. Please note, this episode was recorded before the settlement agreement. However, we capture great insight into international students’ ongoing contributions to discoveries in cancer research and COVID-19 vaccines.

We will continue to send updates daily or as more COVID-19-related news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or in past updates or want to hear more about a different topic, just reply to let us know. If you have specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.