World Status Report
April 29, 2021
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
Confrontations continue in Venezuela at the border with Colombia. More than 6000 people have sought refuge in Colombia. Humanitarian actors have not yet been allowed to enter the area (ERCC). Child displacement due to violence and insecurity within Central African Republic is in the hundreds of thousands, exposing them to sexual and physical violence, recruitment by armed forces, malnutrition, and lack of access to essential services (UN News). Fresh clashes between Myanmar security forces and regional armed groups have displaced thousands across the country (UN News). Localized skirmishes that started on Sunday in Mogadishu, Somalia have spread to other parts of the country (UN News). Germany’s intelligence service said on Wednesday it would put some members of the country’s anti-lockdown movement under surveillance as concerns grow that their movement is attempting to undermine the legitimacy of the state (CNN).
Natural Disasters
The Philippines has been affected by severe weather causing landslides and flooding affecting thousands of people (ERCC).
Health
Over 1.3 million people need emergency humanitarian assistance in Madagascar. There is a deteriorating food security situation, particularly in the southern and southwestern regions of the island (ERCC). The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported six additional confirmed Lassa fever cases last week, bringing the country total to 247 cases and 50 deaths this year to date (Outbreak News Today). COVID-19 has overwhelmed health-care systems and disrupted TB care all over the world (NPR).
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: Hong Kong eased restrictions on Thursday at restaurants and bars where staff and customers have begun receiving coronavirus vaccinations. Hong Kong is also requiring residents who want to go to Singapore under a new quarantine-free travel bubble to be fully vaccinated (NYT). Turkey is bracing itself for its first national coronavirus lockdown as infection rates continue to climb in the country, now the highest in Europe (CNN). Strict travel and public health restrictions will remain in metro Manila, Philippines and surrounding areas until mid-May (CNN). On April 28, 2021, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of family members of U.S. government employees in Mission India, and advises U.S. citizens not to travel to India or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so, noting the sharp increase in cases, and struggling infrastructure in many locations (U.S. Embassy New Delhi).
Globally, as of 29 April, Johns Hopkins University counts 149,718,851 COVID-19 cases and 3,153,418 deaths, and the WHO COVID-19 dashboard reports 148,999,876 cases and 3,140,115 deaths.
As notable cases: Nepal recorded 4,897 new Covid-19 cases Wednesday, a surge in cases that’s forcing the government to source 20,000 extra oxygen cylinders from abroad to cope with the country’s limited supply (CNN). Globally, new COVID-19 cases increased for the ninth consecutive week, with nearly 5.7 million new cases reported in the last week – surpassing previous peaks. The number of new deaths increased for the sixth consecutive week, with over 87 000 new deaths reported. India accounts for the vast majority of cases from this regional trend and 38% of global cases reported in the past week. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from India, the United States, Brazil, Turkey and France WHO epidemiological update.
Vaccination campaigns around the world continue. As of 28 April, Our World in Data reports 1.08 billion administered vaccine doses globally. The WHO COVID-19 dashboard as of 28 April reports over 967 million administered vaccine doses.
As notable cases: The world’s biggest vaccine maker, the Serum Institute India (SII), will reduce prices on Covid-19 vaccines as India faces a surge of new cases across the country (CNN).
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 28
| # 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.
