ICYMI: Robot watchdogs, ongoing lockdowns, BA.2, Omicron XE and other COVID-19 updates

With our last ICYMI post, we (sort of rhetorically) asked, "Has COVID-19 disappeared?" Our answer was that it seems like it depends on where you are. The reality is that there is still plenty of COVID-19 to go around and some places are hitting all-time infection highs and experiencing surges. BA.2 and Omicron XE also have people concerned for what lies ahead. The more contagious Omicron subvariant BA.2 has become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S., but international health experts are putting an increased focus on a new hybrid variant that may be even more infectious. 

Per our friends at Relo Network Asia: In addition to the number of countries reducing or removing quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated arrivals including Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, April also starts a month filled with several important holidays. The slimming of border-crossing restrictions means that many more people will be able to take holiday and get together with family. To note, holidays that may cause some disruption:

• Ramadan (April 1 - May 1)
• Easter (April 15 - April 18, depending on location)
• Songkran (April 13 - April 15 in Thailand)

Let's scan the mobility horizon and catch you up on a number of specifics in locations that are being impacted by surges or adjusting to receding numbers of infections.

1. China: Shanghai is experiencing the largest outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic. The city is now eerily locked down and the New York Times reports that the city of 26 million reported more than 2,600 COVID-19 infections on March 30, up from just a handful in early March, with hospitals and medical staff already stretched thin. The two-stage plan will attempt to test every citizen by April 5. Robot dogs are being deployed to bark out lockdown orders in Shanghai. The Associated Press reports that "citizens in locked-down areas, except for those providing essential services, will not be allowed to leave their neighborhoods. Offices and all businesses not considered essential will be closed and public transport suspended. Deliveries will be left at special checkpoints." Ports are open, but strict testing requirements for port staff and truck drivers are creating delays. Anyone testing positive is sent to a hospital. Their close contacts also get monitored. Read this for some expat insights on what is happening.
2. India: Scheduled international flight services have resumed from as of March 27 after being suspended for two years due to COVID-19. Starting March 27, six Indian airlines and 60 foreign airlines will connect India with 63 countries. The government of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital, has decided to remove all pandemic-related curbs, Uddhav Thackeray, chief minister of the state, said in a tweet. The decision comes a week after the federal advisory to states recommending easing of restrictions. New Delhi is also discussing the lifting of curbs, the Mint newspaper reported. India recorded 1,225 COVID-19 cases on March 31.
3. Hong Kong: There is good news here, as Hong Kong resumed services on April 1 with the city logging its lowest COVID infections in a month. The Chinese territory intends to ease a travel ban on flights from nine countries, including the U.S., U.K. and Australia, and allow those travelers to quarantine in a hotel for seven days rather than 14. The changes were set to take effect on April 1. Government departments will return to normal service by April 21. Schools are also due to resume face-to-face classes by April 19. The city announced the lifting of measures including a ban on dining in restaurants after 6.p.m., and the reopening of most public venues and sports facilities. Hong Kong authorities on April 2 asked the entire population of more than 7.4 million people to voluntarily test themselves for COVID-19 at home for three days in a row starting this week. 
4. Japan: The country will raise its daily cap on overseas arrivals to around 10,000 from April 10, up from the current 7,000, as it gradually relaxes its coronavirus border controls. The latest move reflects the growing need for entry among returning Japanese nationals and foreign visitors, including students who wish to stay in Japan. But it still does not apply to foreign tourists. 
5. Malaysia: As of April 1, Malaysia has reopened its borders and dropped quarantine requirements for people vaccinated against COVID-19, but travelers must be tested two days before traveling and within 24 hours of their arrival. The decision was a result of the country’s high vaccination rate, low hospital bed usage by COVID-19 patients and small percentage of serious cases. Malaysia is now an open destination despite the fact that new daily cases have risen sharply to above 25,000 in recent weeks due to the omicron strain, though less than 1% of cases have been categorized as serious. Australia, Singapore and Thailand have also recently eased entry restrictions. Hundreds of travelers crossed the checkpoints at Woodlands and the Second Link as Singapore and Malaysia fully reopened their land borders on April 1. 
6. South Korea: South Korea logged 264,171 new COVID-19 cases on April 2, remaining below the 300,000-mark for the second consecutive day. It's a sign that the Omicron variant is slowing down. Relaxing restrictions, the country has decided to allow fully vaccinated travelers from all nations to enter without quarantine. A negative coronavirus test is still required for entry. 
7. Australia: Australian COVID-19 infections are continuing to surge due to a sub-variant of the Omicron strain, as health authorities warn cases won’t peak until mid-April. Despite daily case numbers reaching levels experienced during the height of the Omicron wave this past summer, some states have moved to ease restrictions. Daily COVID-19 cases in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) surged as the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 sub-variant continues to spread.
8. Italy: On April 1, the country began to phase out COVID-19 restrictions and ended a state of emergency that was introduced way back on Jan. 31, 2020. Daily infections have risen again in Italy since the beginning of March, as they have in many other European countries, but they have stabilized in the last week, according to data from the think tank Gimbe. There is a vaccination requirement that will be kept until Dec. 31 for workers in healthcare. Rules have been eased for travelers to Italy, one of the world's top tourist destinations, though visitors still need to show COVID-19 health certificates and to complete a passenger locator form. 
9. United Kingdom: The next record-breaking outbreak is ravaging England, as coronavirus infections are hitting an all-time high (5 million cases), with one in 13 thought to have had COVID in the most recent week, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. The number of patients in London hospitals testing positive for COVID-19 has risen to the highest in almost two months. The latest surge is driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant BA.2, which is the dominant variant across the UK. 
10. Canada: Per The Points Guy, this past weekend was the first time during the pandemic that vaccinated travelers could freely enter Canada without needing to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The change, which took effect on April 1, means simpler travel for visitors flying into Canada to visit one of the country’s many tourist destinations. It also means far easier land crossings for those living close to the border. 
11. United States: COVID-19 infections have now passed 80 million and the U.S. coronavirus death toll has increased to more than 980,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data, but more than half of the U.S. still has not had COVID, per the CDC. Some wonder if that will change based on the majority of Americans who are now not wearing masks in public, according to a new national poll. At the same time, a fourth booster shot has been authorized for those 50 and older. BA.2 has gained ground in the U.S. since February and is expected to become the dominant variant here in the coming weeks. Consider these COVID hospitalization hot spots across the U.S. 

Many countries are opening up their borders to tourists and reducing once-mandatory precautions. It will be interesting to watch what happens over the next few months with travel. With many places dropping restrictions, free testing and other support being offered, and with "revenge travel" expected to kick into high gear, as "hosts" are we creating an excellent environment for the transmission of BA.2 and Omicron XE? We'll keep updating you...ICYMI!