As the coronavirus pandemic continues to widely spread, countries around the world also continue to tighten border controls.
One of the main decisions of all countries is to go under full lockdown. Another 11 countries decided to close all the borders with the neighbour and non-neighbouring countries, in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly virus, VisaGuide.World reports.
It is reported that 308,603 contracted SARS-CoV2 worldwide and nearly 13,100 persons have died, so far.
Argentina
Up to 150 cases of people infected with coronavirus pushed the government of the South American country, Argentina to close the borders for non-residents.
From March 15, for at least two weeks all the country’s borders will remain closed, while all the flights from Europe and the United States will be canceled as well.
“We have closed the borders of Argentina because the coronavirus is beginning to affect neighboring countries and because tourists who come from risk areas arrive at land borders,” President Alberto Fernandez pointed out.
According to President Fernandez, the citizens who are subject to quarantines must follow the instructions, other ways will be arrested or criminally pursued.
The total number of deaths in Argentina due to COVID-19 is 4.
Chile
Borders will remain close for non-residents of Chile as well, starting from March 18.
Citizens who are returning from the countries where the infection is highly spread will have to self-quarantine for at least 14 days.
“We’ve decided to close all our country’s terrestrial, maritime and aerial borders for the transit of foreigners,” Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera highlighted.
In Chile, 537 persons are infected by the virus, thus the country is in a 90-days state of emergency.
Lebanon
Starting from March 18, Lebanon’s government announced that it will temporarily close its land borders, airport as well as seaports.
After functionalizing this decision, Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport is almost empty due to the canceled flights.
The travel ban, according to the government, will be in place until March 29.
From the spread of COVID-19 in Lebanon, 206 persons have been infected and 4 persons have already died.
Brazil
Another country that banned travel, by closing for 15 days the borders with all the countries, is Brazil.
This country is considered to have the highest number of persons affected by the coronavirus in Latin America.
On Monday, the Brazilian government announced the doors for Europe, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, will remain closed, and all non-residents will be ineligible to enter.
From March 18, the border with Venezuela has been closed as well.
The death toll from the virus in Brazil has reached 18, with 1,178 infected persons.
Indonesia
Despite tightening border controls and restricting the entry, Indonesia took a further step by prohibiting its citizens to leave the county, for at least a month because of coronavirus.
According to Retno Marsudi, Foreign Minister of Indonesia, foreigners who want to enter in their country are required to have a visa with the explication of the purpose of the visit, while when applying for a visa must attach a health certificate.
Marsudi said that the government has temporarily suspended the visa-free arrival, visa-on-arrival, and free diplomatic visas.
450 persons tested positive to the infection, while 38 persons died, so far.
Angola
The Government of Angola suspended the flights for 15 days, in a bid to maintain under control the spread of the deadly virus.
The decision was announced by the Presidential Decree. According to the decree, the foreigner citizens who want to enter Angola must attach a health certificate, required by the authorities.
Besides, the President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço suspended the international missions as well as the visits by foreigner members of the executive, for central and local administration, including itself in the travel ban, until further notice.
Public events with up to 200 people will be also prohibited.
Two persons are affected by the virus in Angola, as yet.
Serbia
Serbia as well has suspended all the flights from country to abroad and vice versa. The suspension is predicted to last for at least two weeks.
“All road, rail, and air border crossings were closed for passengers at 08:00 CET on Friday and only trucks can enter the country”, the government reads in a statement.
Serbia decided to close its borders for foreign citizens on March 15, while the borders remained open for Serbian citizens who were returning from abroad, and diplomats.
Zorana Mihajlovic, the Transport Minister of Serbia, announced that commercial flights from Nicola Tesla Airports, in Belgrade, will be stopped starting from midnight Thursday.
The total number of infections from COVID-19 in Serbia reached 188.
Colombia
As part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, President Ivan Duque announced that Colombia will temporarily suspend all land, air and sea travel, starting from March 23.
Duque added that all international passenger flights will be ineligible to arrive in Colombia, for 30 days.
In addition, the President urged the older citizens to remain indoors for at least one month.
From March 16, Colombia restricted entry for citizens who visited Europe and Asia in the past two weeks.
It has closed the border with Venezuela as well, as a preventive measure because thousands of citizens cross daily, and to prevent the increase of the number of infected persons, that is 210.
Russia
Russia will shut its airports, from March 24 until May 1, including with Belarus.
The entry ban will remain in place for six weeks, will not include local citizens, transit air passengers with residency or diplomats.
The emergency cases will be exempted from the government’s decision as well.
The latest Russian President’s decision wasn’t welcome, particularly by Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus President criticizes Russia’s decision stressing that the move will only aggravate economic conditions.
306 persons are infected by a coronavirus in Russia.
Laos
Competent authorities in Lao closed the border checkpoints that connect Vietnam and Thailand’s Bueng Kan province, until further notice.
The temporary closure of border checkpoints is expected to have an impact on Thai and Lao trade and labor but was seen as a needed decision.
Myanmar
Myanmar will also join the countries that are closing their borders amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“We will temporarily suspend the entry of foreign nationals through any border checkpoint until further notice,” Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed on Wednesday.
According to the ministry, the Indian border at Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawtar-Rekhawar has been temporarily closed earlier this month, announcing that the border checkpoints with China in Kachin State and northern Shan State and those with Thailand and Laos will be also closed for foreign citizens.