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

A recent spike in inter-community violence in the eastern province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is worsening the plight of children there (UN News).

Natural Disasters

Sever weather has impacted Burundi, Indonesia, and Colombia causing floods and landslides, displacing thousands of people and damaging infrastructure (ERCC).

Health

More than 7 million people in Sudan are experiencing food shortages and require humanitarian assistance. Those most vulnerable are struggling due to high food prices, cash and fuel shortages and the disruption of basic services (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: Turkey announces “full lockdown” from April 29 to May 17 to curb COVID spread (Reuters). Philippines weighs extending lockdown as COVID cases top 1M (AP News). Bangladesh extends ‘lockdown’ by another week as Covid fatalities remain high (Dhaka Tribune). Fully vaccinated US travellers will be able to visit the European Union this summer, but there is not a date specified yet (Schengenvisainfo). EU member states have agreed on the technical requirements guidelines for the implementation of a Digital Green Certificate (Schengenvisainfo).

Globally, as of 27 April, Johns Hopkins University counts 147,986,651 COVID-19 cases and 3,123,358 deaths, and the WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports 147,377,159 cases and 3,112,041 deaths. 

As notable cases: India is currently facing an overwhelming second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a steep increase in cases and deaths, and has a significant shortage of oxygen, medicine, and hospital capacity (ERCC). Nepal is facing a surge in Covid-19 cases according to Nepal’s department of health (CNN). Provinces in Pakistan ban non-urgent surgeries as oxygen supplies run low (CNN).

Vaccination campaigns around the world continue.  As of 26 April, Our World in Data reports 1.04 billion administered vaccine doses globally. The WHO COVID-19 dashboard as of 26 April reports over 933 million administered vaccine doses.

As notable cases: Australia will vaccinate its Olympic athletes and staff ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in July (CNN). The United States plans to share millions of doses of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine with other countries in the coming months (CNN). Real-world UK studies find COVID vaccines cut infection, hospitalization (CIDRAP). The WHO to decide whether to approve Chinese Covid-19 vaccines for global use (South China Morning Post)

Risk Levels

CDC COVID-19 Levels, last update on April 26

# Countries	Risk Level
139	Level 4: COVID-19 Very High (avoid all travel)
22	Level 3: COVID-19 High (avoid all non-essential travel)
36	Level Unknown: COVID-19 Unknown (avoid all non-essential travel)
17	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 26

# Countries	Risk Level
158	Level 4: Do Not Travel
37	Level 3: Reconsider Travel
16	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.