World Status Report

This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international risks, and other issues as reported by the linked official sources from the U.S. and other countries.

Please note the publication date of this report, and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Security

Disturbing reports have continued to emerge of widespread abuse of civilians in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, said UNICEF on Tuesday. “There is no clear end in sight” to the conflict, said agency spokesperson James Elder (UN News). Russia will soon have more than 120,000 troops on Ukraine‘s border, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said (U.S. News).  In Michoacán, Mexico, violent clashes between rival criminal groups are escalating, amidst a string of political assassinations and causing the displacement of thousands of people (The Guardian).

Natural Disasters

Severe weather in Angola has led to flash floods causing fatalities and widespread damage to infrastructure.  Over 8000 people have been displaced (ERCC).  The wildfire in South Africa destroyed or damaged buildings in the university of Cape Town, impacting up to 1000 students (ERCC). In the Philippines the tropical cyclone SURIAGE displaced more than 37,000 people, and almost 230,000 have been affected (ERCC).

COVID-19

International preventative measures against COVID-19, including entry restrictions and in-country mobility remain very fluid, and can be imposed without prior notice. Details for each country can be found in the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. 

As notable cases: The outbreak in India has prompted Sri Lanka to postpone plans for a two-way air travel bubble (The Hindu). The United Arab Emirates is considering restricting the movements of those who have not been vaccinated, the government announced (WaPo). Japan‘s government is considering a state of emergency for Tokyo and Osaka as new COVID-19 case numbers surge (Reuters). A national nightly curfew in the Netherlands, designed to reduce social contact, will end at 4:30 a.m. local on April 28 (CNN).

Globally, as of 21 April, Johns Hopkins University counts 143,076,046 COVID-19 cases and 3,047,222 deaths, and the WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports 142,238,073 cases and 3,032,124 deaths. 

As notable cases:  Multiple climbers tested positive at CIWEC Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, after being flown there in recent days from Everest Base Camp (NYT). India reported more than 200,000 infections for the seventh straight day as the outbreak depletes hospital space and resources in the capital, New Delhi (WaPo). In Iran, intensive care unit beds in the capital are at 100% capacity (CNN). Globally, new COVID-19 cases rose for the eighth consecutive week, and deaths increased for the fifth consecutive week, compared to last week. The  countries reporting the highest number of new cases are India, the United States, Brazil, Turkey, and France (WHO).

Vaccination campaigns around the world continue.  As of 20 April, Our World in Data reports over 928 million administered vaccine doses globally. The WHO COVID-19 dashboard as of 20 April reports over 843 million administered vaccine doses.

As notable cases: In Israel, with most of the country’s adults vaccinated, Israelis are hitting the beaches, eating in restaurants and attending theater performances (WaPo). Several countries in Europe began distributing doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, stepping up the shot’s rollout just one day after European regulators said that its benefits outweighed potential blood clot risks (WaPo). Many countries in Africa, already facing a shortage of affordable vaccines, are being challenged by the unprecedented scale of distribution when doses do arrive (Reuters).

Risk Levels

WHO Rapid risk assessment update: The global public health risk remains very high. The  COVID-19 pandemic  shows  no signs of easing, with global case and death incidence increasing at a concerning rate since mid-February 2021.

CDC COVID-19 Levels, last update on April 19

# Countries	Risk Level
141	Level 4: COVID-19 Very High (avoid all travel)
17	Level 3: COVID-19 High (avoid all non-essential travel)
35	Level Unknown: COVID-19 Unknown (avoid all non-essential travel)
21	Level 2: COVID-19 Moderate (travelers at increased risk for severe illness, avoid all non-essential travel)
31	Level 1: COVID-19 Low (take steps to mitigate risks before, during, and after travel)

U.S. Department of State Levels, last update on April 21

# Countries	Risk Level
123	Level 4: Do Not Travel
66	Level 3: Reconsider Travel
18	Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
4	Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.