Global Coronavirus Situation

See the evolution of the spread of the Covid-19 virus and its impacts country by country.

Consult the Government of Canada public health website for more recommendations: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories?_ga=2.225941208.379818590.1584132740-671505246.1580922052

See the current situation on the Government of Canada site: https://voyage.gc.ca/voyager/sante-securite/conseils-sante-voyageurs/210

See the interactive map of the evolution of the virus in the world: https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Please find below some of the measures implemented as of today in the various countries most affected:

SOUTH KOREA

• The number of cases in South Korea continues to grow with more than 5,600 cases as of March 4, 2020. There are several official government warnings against South Korea, including the United States, the United Kingdom and other big governments.
• We do not recommend traveling to South Korea at this time. Other countries in Southeast Asia have banned South Korean citizens and anyone transiting through South Korea from entering. Therefore, we do not recommend anyone to use Korean Airlines or Asiana Airlines to reach other points in Asia until further notice.

CHINA

• China is still closed for travel during this situation.
• For the rest of Asia, the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases is lower than before and countries can travel safely. Please note the following updates and preventive measures in place for each country to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
• Official world figures are available on the WHO website.

VIETNAM

• The US CDC has removed Vietnam from the list of destinations at risk for community spread of coronavirus.
• The closure of the commune of Son Loi, 47 km north of Hanoi, has been lifted since March 4, 2020, after 20 days of zoning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Anyone who leaves or transits through South Korea will be quarantined in Vietnam for 14 days after their arrival (from February 28).
• Foreign nationals, including South Koreans, who visited Daegu / Gyeongbuk in South Korea within 14 days will be refused entry to Vietnam.
• No entry for visitors who have stayed in China in the past 14 days (airlines prevent people from boarding flights to Vietnam if they have been in China within 14 days of travel .)
• Vietnam will refuse the entry of people who are native and who visit the zones affected by the Coronavirus of the countries or territories which have an epidemic of Coronavirus: in South Korea, it is Daegu and Gyeongsang, and in Italy, it is Tuscany, Lombardy and Sicily.
• All tourist sites are open.
• 16 cases of COVID-19, but all cases have now recovered
• Health checks (temperature checks) are carried out at all airports to monitor all arrivals.
• Visa on arrival and e-visa will not be issued from 15 March 2020 until further notice. Guests who already have e-visa or visa on arrival letter and will enter Vietnam today (13 March) or tomorrow (14 March) will still be allowed entry. After March 14, the documents will be considered invalid
• Going forward, guests must apply for Visa Approval Letter to Vietnam Immigration Department via local Vietnam travel companies. Trails of Indochina can process visa approval letter. Please contact us for details. The Central Immigration Department in Vietnam will decide to approve the application or not. Once approved, the decision is sent to the travel company and to the Vietnamese embassy abroad. Guests must get their visa stamped on their passport at the embassy.
• Guests travelling in Vietnam now are fine and can continue their trip until the normal departure date.

CAMBODIA

• Currently no travel restrictions in place
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally
• 1 case of COVID-19

LAOS

• No flights to and from China.
• Some airlines (T’way Air, Air Busan and Jin Air & Laos Airlines) have suspended the flight between Laos and South Korea
• All foreign nationals who have visited China or South Korea in the past 14 days before entering Laos will be subject to more stringent screening procedures
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally
• No case of COVID-19

MYANMAR

• No flights to and from China or South Korea.
• Anyone who has visited or stayed in Daegu, South Korea within 14 days of arrival will be quarantined at a designated hospital for 14 days (effective February 28).
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally.
• No case of COVID-19

THAILAND

• Some airlines have suspended flights between Thailand and China.
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally 3
• 43 cases of COVID-19

INDONESIA

• No entry for visitors who have stayed in China in the past 14 days
• Quarantine of passengers entering Indonesia who are known to have been in contact with people who test positive elsewhere.
• The Indonesian government has banned all travel to and from China
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally
• 02 cases of COVID-19

JAPAN

• No entry for anyone in Hubei province in the past 2 weeks.
• Foreign nationals who have visited Daegu / Cheongdo in South Korea within 14 days will be refused entry to Japan (from February 26).
• No cruise ship having recently visited China and presenting a risk of coronavirus
• The Diamond Princess cruise is currently docked in Yokohama, Japan, in quarantine. There are more than 500 cases on board, but this does not affect tourist visits to the rest of the country.
• Since Wednesday, some passengers who have passed the quarantine period and who are not infected with the virus have disembarked. The situation seems to be improving.
• Many attractions across the country temporarily suspend service, some festivals and events may have been canceled or postponed. For a regular update, please visit the official JNTO account @VisitJapan
• 268 cases of COVID-19

HONG KONG

• All travelers entering Hong Kong from the mainland must be quarantined for 14 days.
• Anyone who has left or transited to South Korea will be refused entry to Hong Kong (with the exception of Hong Kong identity card holders, starting on February 25).
• Passengers who have stayed in South Korea, Iran or three regions of Italy in the past 14 days will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.
• Passenger services at Lo Wu, Hung Hom and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line stations; Express Rail Link’s West Kowloon station; Macau ferry terminal, China Ferry, Tuen Mun Ferry, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Ocean Terminal; as well as the land passages at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok are suspended.
• Some major attractions, including Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck, Noah’s Ark Hong Kong, Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Man Mo Temple, Department of Cultural and Leisure Services museums and facilities of the Office of Antiquities and Monuments is temporarily closed until further notice. Other attractions, including the Peak Tram, have reduced opening hours. Before your visit, please check their respective websites.
• Certain events can be postponed or canceled. Hong Kong Sevens is postponed and the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Art Basel and Art Central programs have been canceled. Tai Kwun remains open with limited services; all exhibitions, events, performances and guided tours are suspended.
• 101 cases of COVID-19

TAIWAN

• Restrictions on the entry of Chinese citizens
• Foreigners who went to China within 14 days cannot enter Taiwan
• 14-day home quarantine mandatory for travelers transiting through China, Hong Kong and Macao and allowed to enter Taiwan
• Foreign nationals leaving or transiting through South Korea will be quarantined in Taiwan for 14 days after their arrival. (from February 25) * Nationals of Taiwan will be applied from February 27.
• All international cruise ships will be prohibited from entering Taiwanese ports until further notice.
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally
• 42 cases of COVID-19

PHILIPPINES

• Anyone who has traveled from Gyeongbuk / Daegu / Cheongdo to South Korea is not allowed to enter the Philippines. Korean nationals will need a resident registration certificate in English (from February 29); permanent visa holders will be quarantined for 14 days.
• There is currently a ban on cruise ships calling at the Philippines.
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally
• 3 cases of COVID-19

SINGAPORE

• No entry for visitors who have stayed in China in the past 14 days
• All new visitors who have recently traveled to mainland China, Iran, northern Italy, Japan and South Korea in the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter Singapore or transit through Singapore.
• The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has suspended the issuance of all forms of new visas to Chinese passport holders. Singapore’s status as a visa-free transit facility for Chinese and Iranian passport holders has also been suspended.
• Short-term, multiple-visit visas previously issued for Chinese and Iranian passport holders have also been suspended. During this period of suspension, they will not be allowed to enter Singapore.
• No entry for Chinese citizens
• All tourist sites are open and operating normally
• 108 cases of COVID-19

ITALY

• Italy is struggling to counter an epidemic of COVID-19 after a sharp increase in cases and deaths that have made it the country most infected with the new coronavirus outside of Asia. In recent days it has become the most affected country in Europe, with more than 300 cases and 11 deaths. In addition, as the health crisis caused by the coronavirus continues, the number of countries increases, which introduces on the one hand restrictions for people arriving from Italy and on the other hand advises against going to a country where there are outbreaks of infection. All this from a political point of view, Italy remains a particular observation and the neighbors of Europe oscillate between the offers of aid and the temptation to limit traffic with Italy.
• Affected areas: The Italian authorities imposed travel restrictions last weekend for 14 days from Sunday 23 February in some municipalities where authorization is required to leave and / or enter the locality of Lombardy (a) Bertonico; b) Casalpusterlengo; c) Castelgerundo; d) Castiglione D’Adda; e) Codogno; f) Fombio; g) Maleo; h) San Fiorano; i) Somaglia; j) Terranova dei Passerini) and a small village in Veneto (Vò Euganeo). At the moment, there are no other travel restrictions in Italy.

The federal government encourages Canadians traveling or living abroad to register at https://voyage.gc.ca/voyager/inscription to receive important information in the event of an emergency.

Health precautions for use:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the Canadian government still recommends daily preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap under running hot water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if you do not have access to soap and water. It’s a good idea to always keep some with you when traveling.
• Observe the label for coughing and sneezing:
• Cover your mouth and nose with your arm to reduce the spread of germs.

If you use a tissue, throw it out as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards.

Monitor your health:

If you become ill during your trip or after you return, avoid contact with other people, except to consult a health professional. Give them the following information:

Your symptoms

• Places where you have traveled or lived
• If you have had direct contact with animals (for example, you have visited a live animal market) or close contact with a sick person.
• If you feel sick during your flight to Canada or upon arrival, notify the flight attendant or a Canadian border services officer.
• These are daily habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses.

Treatment:

If you were in China, Iran, northern Italy, Japan or South Korea in the past 14 days and you feel sick with fever, cough or breathing difficulties, you should:

Get medical attention immediately. Before going to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and let them know about your recent trip and your symptoms.

• Avoid contact with others.
• Do not travel while ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Consult the Government of Canada public health website for more recommendations:

https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/maladies/2019-nouveau-coronavirus/foire-aux-questions.html 

See the current situation on the Government of Canada site: https://voyage.gc.ca/voyager/sante-securite/conseils-sante-voyageurs/210

See the recommendations of the Canadian Government for any trip to Italy: https://voyage.gc.ca/destinations/italie

See the interactive map of the evolution of the virus in the world: https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Protection of travelers by the OPC:

Travelers who purchased their plane tickets or other tourist services from a travel agent with a Quebec permit could benefit from the protection of the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents (FICAV).

The Fund, administered by the Agency, may reimburse tourist services that have been paid for but will not be used because of the warning to travelers to avoid travel to Hubei Province, China, issued by the Government of Canada. The FICAV could also compensate a client forced to extend their stay in China due to a travel ban imposed by the Chinese authorities.

Apart from formal travel restrictions imposed by authorities or official notices from the Canadian government to avoid travel to a given destination, the law does not include a provision allowing a traveler to require reimbursement for a trip that he decided to cancel simply because he feared contagion. Customers should check with their suppliers what arrangements are possible in the circumstances and, if they must ultimately make their trip, follow the instructions of the health authorities.

The situation of flights to / from China:

British Airways: The British airline has announced the suspension of all its flights to and from mainland China.

Lufthansa: The German company has announced the suspension of all its flights to and from mainland China.

Air Canada: The airline has announced the suspension of all flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai until April 10. The company partially suspends its Toronto-Hong Kong flights until April 30 and is implementing measures for Italy. The airline also announce the suspension of all its flights to and from Italy

If you are traveling to China, contact your travel agent.

Updated: February 26, 2020