COVID-19: Border Controls and Vaccine Passports

Jan 13, 2022

India mandates 7-day quarantine for all foreign tourists regardless of vaccination status
Cuba to require proof of vaccination for entry for travelers from age 13
Israel reopens borders to vaccinated and some recovered foreign travelers
Thailand reopens popular spots for vaccinated international tourists. Tourists must undergo testing and stay at government hotel until negative test result
Malaysia waives quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers with a history of recent Covid infection
Ireland scraps testing requirement for fully vaccinated arrivals
France drops requirement for proof of essential reason for UK travelers, as well as obligatory isolation upon arrival

United States

Massachusetts launches phone-based vaccine passport
Baltimore considers regional vaccine passport plan
DC, Minneapolis, St. Paul to require diners for proof of vaccination
Boston indoor vaccine mandate begins
Citi warns US employees they’ll be fired if they don’t get vaccine
Facebook to require boosters
NY health care workers required to take boosters
Kroger employees to face monetary penalties if they do not receive the vaccine, also unvaccinated employees required to be tested weekly
Broadway theaters to ask for proof of vaccine for kids aged 5 and up
Private insurers required to cover up to 8 at-home rapid tests per month
Wisconsin proposes bill that would require employers in the state to allow proof of a previous infection as an alternative to vaccination
LA lifts mandatory vaccination status checks for malls, shopping centers

Canada

Quebec to impose a 'significant' fine on unvaccinated residents. Alberta, B.C. “not planning a similar measure”
Quebec prepares to make three doses the minimum to be considered "adequately protected"
Quebec Superior Court judge temporarily suspends a father’s right to see his child based on evidence that the man is not vaccinated and appears to oppose government health measures
Toronto Transit Commission fires 354 workers who did not meet vaccination requirement
Ontario considers forcing hospitals to re-hire unvaccinated staff as surging case numbers strain health-care providers
20,000 health-care staff isolating in Quebec
Canada to mandate vaccine for cross-border truckers, supposedly some truckers will have exemption
Fully vaccinated travelers entering the Northwest Territories, who were already allowed to skip isolation, now have to take a rapid test at home when they arrive

Europe

Italian government bans unvaccinated people from public transport, outdoor dining until at least March 31. Unvaccinated citizens aged over 50 will be fined €100, effective February 1. Those unvaccinated who try to go to work face penalties of between €600 and €1,500. Those who access stores without at least presenting a negative Covid test could be fined up to €1,000
Austria confirms plan for mandatory vaccination from February
UK is reportedly looking to make 3rd dose mandatory for vaccine passports
Germany, Greece considering mandatory vaccination for over-50s
Greece sets February deadline for booster jabs to keep vaccinated status; approves 4th vaccine shot for those “at risk”
Scotland to require booster jabs for access to large events
France votes for vaccination as legal requirement to travel and eat out
Switzerland shortens quarantine to 5 days for fully vaccinated or recovered people testing positive
England reduces isolation period for fully vaccinated patients to 5 days
Belgium scraps self-isolation for fully vaccinated close contacts. Isolation period for fully vaccinated patients reduced to 7 days
Malta considers removing quarantine for vaccinated close contacts, reducing isolation to 5 days for fully vaccinated patients
Ireland scraps isolation for boostered asymptomatic close contacts. Close contacts without boosters have to isolate for 7 days
Frequent boosters can weaken immunity, EU scientists say

Asia

In Israel, vaccination rate of each class determines if students would attend school in-person or remotely. Shool staff must present “green pass” to enter school grounds, unvaccinated teachers can provide negative test results instead
Maldives to shorten quarantine period for Covid positive people and direct contacts to 10 days, if they are fully vaccinated
India’s Maharashtra allows gyms, beauty salons to operate at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated
Philippines shortens quarantine for fully vaccinated asymptomatic patients to 7 days and asymptomatic close contacts to 5 days, including health workers; bars unvaccinated from Manila public transport

Australia

Booster shot added to NSW school staff vaccination mandate
Unvaccinated West Australians to be banned from entering bottleshops or dining at fast-food restaurants

United Airlines cancels hundreds of flights after 3,000 employees test positive
Heathrow airport demands end to testing for vaccinated as 600,000 cancel flights in December
Mumbai: 154% spike in cases among fully vaccinated hints at weak antibody
Poll: Vaccination status divides thinking of Massachusetts voters on Covid precautions, return to in-person activities - Vaccinated voters much more hesitant to return to once common in-person events

International Lockdowns