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

There have been at least 158 reported attacks on medical personnel and facilities in Myanmar, and over 139 doctors arrested and charged, since the military coup in February, endangering not only vital health services but also the COVID-19 response, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) said on Wednesday (UN News). The eruption of anger in Colombia, where at least 24 have died as the government cracks down on the protests, could spread to other countries in the region that share the same combustible conditions (NYT)

Natural Disasters

Severe weather has impacted various countries resulting in casualties, displacement, and damage: In Afghanistan heavy rains have caused flash floods.  In Thailand and Ecuador heavy rains have caused floods and landslides (ERCC).

Health

Thirty-five years after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded, fission reactions are smoldering again. Ukrainian scientists are working to determine whether the reactions will stop on their own, or require intervention (Science). Experts say Jordan is now in one of the most severe droughts in its history. The environment ministry says Jordan is among the world’s most water-deficient countries, and fears that a warming planet will make the situation more severe (AlJazeera).

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.  The UNWTO and IATA Destination Tracker offers relevant information on a destination status. The Timeline of EU Member States Reopening Their Borders  offers a list of opened EU countries for travelers, and dates of warned opening.

As notable cases: From 17 May, travelers going between New Zealand and Cook Islands will not have to go into managed isolation or self-isolation when they arrive (GOVT.NZ). Philippines‘ President has issued a directive to arrest anyone not wearing a mask properly (The Guardian). Up to 10,000 airline passengers in Indonesia‘s Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, North Sumatra may have been tested for coronavirus with reused nasal swabs in a scam (CNN).

Globally, as of 06 May, Johns Hopkins University counts 155,327,705 COVID-19 cases and 3,245,054 deaths, and the WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports 154,640,649 cases and 3,232,285 deaths. 

As notable cases: Poland has detected its first three cases of the Covid-19 variant P.1 (The Guardian). Nepal is struggling to contain a surge in Covid-19 cases, and has appealed for urgent international help (The Guardian). Red Cross sounds alarm over Nepal‘s COVID-19 crisis (CIDRAP). Tokyo reports that the number of new Covid-19 cases among younger people are on the rise and called on residents to further curtail their movements (The Guardian). India confirmed record numbers on Thursday in the past 24hrs with 3,980 deaths and 412,262 cases (The Guardian). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday listed the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first detected in India as a “variant of interest,” B.1.617, which is now the most common variant in India, has also been found in the United Kingdom and the United States, and was recently detected in Israel (CNN). In Japan, hospitals in Osaka no longer have empty beds available for severe Covid-19 patients, according to government data (CNN). Nations ranging from Laos to Thailand, and those bordering India such as Bhutan and Nepal, have been reporting significant surges in infections in the past few weeks. More contagious virus variants, complacency and lack of resources to contain the spread have been cited as reasons (Bloomberg).

Vaccination campaigns around the world continue.  As of 05 May, Our World in Data reports 1.21 billion administered vaccine doses globally. The WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports over 1.17 billion administered vaccine doses.

As notable cases:  France will lower the age of those eligible for Covid-19 vaccines to all French people aged 50 and over from next Monday onwards (The Guardian). The first nationwide study of coronavirus vaccination, done in Israel, shows Pfizer/BioNtech’s vaccine works far better after two doses, providing greater than 95% protection from infection, severe illness, and death (CNN). US backs waiving COVID vaccine property rights (CIDRAP). Canada on Wednesday morning authorized use of Pfizer-BionTech’s coronavirus vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, marking the first time the country has greenlit a coronavirus vaccine for adolescents (WaPo).

Risk Levels

CDC COVID-19 Levels, last update on May 3

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

U.S. Department of State Levels, last update on May 5

# Countries	Risk Level
157	Level 4: Do Not Travel
39	Level 3: Reconsider Travel
15	Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
0	Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

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.