ICYMI: The pandemic continues but hope abounds for talent mobility to increase!

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent global health research center at the University of Washington and its goal is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. The organization shares insights from around the world, answers readers' questions and runs modeling for the possibilities of where things could go in the future, based on science. In this recent blog post, Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray shared:

"COVID-19 will be with us for many years to come as a recurrent disease, intensifying seasonally during the fall and winter months. As people’s immunity declines and new variants emerge, we’re also likely to see resurgences of COVID-19. But the current period of extraordinary social and economic disruption is likely coming to an end as COVID becomes a challenge that health systems manage, rather than a crisis that consumes society as a whole. I see reasons for hope."

Many are questioning whether we are now past the pandemic and entering into the endemic phase, but the World Health Organization says we are not quite there yet while acknowledging that the definition is a bit murky. As surges continue to occur and case rates are exceedingly high, the virus continues to act like a pandemic. But with the number of infections, vaccines and treatments, most feel hopeful that we are close to being at the end of the pandemic phase. That said, let's peek around the world and consider some recent country updates so that you can stay aware of potential impacts for your mobility programs.

1. United States: Per Newsweek, the lobbying group Airlines for America, along with 28 other airline, travel and business groups, issued a letter on Feb. 2 to White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients to urge the removal of pre-departure COVID testing for vaccinated international travelers. Currently, all international airline passengers ages 2 and older coming to the United States must show proof of a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours of the flight's departure, or proof of recovery from COVID, according to the U.S. Department of State. A survey shows pre-departure testing is the leading factor when deciding to not travel internationally for air travelers. Additionally, states across the country have eliminated or are looking to eliminate mask mandates with New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon and Delaware putting dates to ending their mandates. There are only nine states that currently require masks indoors.
2. United Kingdom: The U.K. announced the removal of pre-departure testing for vaccinated travelers last month to take effect Feb. 11, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (who just tested positive) saying it has "outlived its usefulness," and unvaccinated travelers will only need to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day two after arriving in England. Other European leaders have also announced plans to change COVID-19 mitigation strategies as they see the pandemic moving to an endemic phase. 
3. Sweden: Per CNN, Sweden is set to remove most COVID-19 restrictions next week.  As of Feb. 9, the 11 p.m. curfew will be lifted along with limits on the size of parties and distance between parties in hospitality settings. Both workplaces and universities that have been carrying out remote work and learning have been advised to return gradually. The infection control measures will be phased out in two stages: stage one will come into force on Feb. 9, and stage two is due to begin on April 1. Full details here.
4. Norway: The country has recently eliminated most restrictions including doing away with quarantine requirements for international travelers. To enter the country, travelers 16 and older must complete an entry registration form within 72 hours of arriving in Norway, the Tourism Board of Norway announced Monday. U.S. travelers above 18 years old must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test taken no more than 24 hours prior to arriving in Norway, according to The Norwegian Directorate of Health. 
5. Spain: After recently extending the mandatory use of facemasks outdoors, Spain announced that given the ongoing decline of infections and hospitalizations, that measure will be eliminated on Feb. 10 as most restrictions across all of Spain give way to normality, including eliminating the use of the COVID passport and re-opening nightlife venues.
6. Austria: It looks like Austria will become the first country to impose a vaccine mandate as the measure makes its way through the last legislative hurdle. It is expected that in mid-March, police will start checking people's vaccination status during traffic stops and checks on coronavirus restrictions. People who can’t produce proof of vaccination will be asked in writing to do so, and will be fined up to €600 ($680) if they don’t; fines could reach €3,600 if people contest their punishment and full proceedings are opened. 
7. Japan: For the first time on Feb. 3, Japan exceeded 100,000 daily COVID-19 cases. Per Kyodo News, Tokyo is among 34 of Japan's 47 prefectures under a COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency amid surging infections driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, which appears, however, to cause fewer severe cases of COVID pneumonia. This comes after shortening the quarantine period to seven days from the current 10 for people who have been in close contact with someone infected with the novel coronavirus. The health ministry said the 10-day self-isolation required for people entering Japan will also be reduced to seven days starting Feb. 5.
8. Brazil: Per Fragomen, a one-year digital nomad visa now offers foreign nationals who are employed outside Brazil or provide services outside Brazil the option to reside in and work remotely from Brazil without local employer sponsorship. See these details for what you need to travel there. At the same time, Brazil reported 1,041 new COVID-19 deaths and 298,408 new cases of the coronavirus across 24 hours on Feb. 4, breaking the country's previous record for daily infections, according to data released by the health ministry. Brazil has been one of the hardest hit countries by the pandemic, second only to the U.S. in deaths.  
9. Hong Kong: Hong Kong now has its strictest cap on public gatherings, having tightened to two people, and has extended the use of a vaccine pass to shopping centers and stores, religious places and salons. Maintaining its "zero-Covid approach" like China, and dealing with its worst outbreak over the last two years, Hong Kong will roll out rapid antigen tests to all of its 7.5 million citizens in the near future. There is a fine of HK$10,000 for ignoring mandatory testing. Schools (virtual until Feb. 21), gyms, pubs and other venues are currently closed, civil servants and others are back working from home, thousands have been sent into quarantine facilities, and most flights to the city are suspended and hardly any transit flights are allowed. However, due to pressures from finance executives and diplomats, Hong Kong will cut quarantine for arrivals to 14 days (from 21) starting Feb. 5.
10. Australia: Pretty recently, Novak Djokovic couldn't get in, but starting Feb. 21, Australia will reopen borders to international visitors (vaccinated tourists, business travelers and all other visa holders) after two years of closures. Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will face quarantine requirements and need a travel exemption. This is all part of moving away from the "Covid Zero" approach and learning to live with the virus.

So are we ready for moving ahead with confidence? One recent research-based stat that should help those who have been vaccinated feel confident about moving about the world is that "the risk of death involving Covid is 93% lower for people who have had a booster or third dose of vaccine compared with unvaccinated people." While there may be much less stress about moving about the world, the big question now is how will global mobility programs be impacted in the long run? Will we ever get back to pre-pandemic volumes?