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The number of coronavirus cases around the world has gone up by more than 10,000 in a single day according to the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), dated 15 March.
Governments are scrambling to stop the spread of Covid-19 by introducing travel bans and restrictions, many of which are starting 16 March.
Airlines, cruise firms and holiday companies are cancelling trips at an unprecedented rate.
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In light of SAS and Norwegian cancelling some 80 per cent of their flights from today, the FCO is advising British nationals wishing to leave Norway to "consider doing so while some flights are still available".
The Foreign Office is already advising against non-essential travel to the country due to the existing travel restrictions – foreign nationals from most countries are being asked to self-isolate for two weeks on arrival. And it has already banned entry to non-residents.
For the time being, Norway is still allowing passengers to transit through its airport and those already in the country can still leave.
The EU is banning "non-essential" entry of all foreign nationals for a period of 30 days.
Only residents, family members and essential staff will be exempt.
The UK is exempt from the travel ban due to the post-Brexit transition period – although a number of EU countries have already introduced their own border restrictions.
FCO is now advising against all but essential travel to the Bahamas.
From 19 March, the country will ban anyone who's been to the UK and other parts of Europe in the previous 20 days from entry. Bahamian nationals and residents are still allowed entry but must self-quarantine after arrival.
The Foreign Office is advising non-resident British nationals to "consider leaving quickly to avoid difficulties they will face if travel out of the country and the region are further restricted and they are unable to get home."
The Maldives has declared a Public Health Emergency, which is in effect until 10 April.
As of 14 March, travel to and from resorts to inhabited islands has been suspended for 14 days.
In addition, anyone who has, in the past 14 days, been to mainland China, Iran, South Korea (North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces), Italy, Bangladesh, Spain (all provinces and regions), Germany (Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg) and France (Île-de-France and Grand Est) are now banned from entering the Maldives.
Those who have holidays to the Maldives booked have been advised by the FCO to contact tour operators or resorts before travel.
According to the FCO, the Greek government has announced that from 16 March, all people arriving in Greece from abroad are required to go into 14 days’ self-isolation. They have also imposed a ban on all Cruise ships and sailboats landing in Greek ports.
The FCO now advises against all but essential travel to Hungary due to travel restrictions implemented by the Hungarian authorities in response to the coronavirus.
The Hungarian Prime Minister announced on 16 March that Hungary would close all borders to foreigners (date and time to be confirmed), with only Hungarian citizens allowed to enter the country. British travellers who wish to leave Hungary should make arrangements to do so as soon as possible, due to the rapidly changing circumstances and airport closures in neighbouring countries.
The FCO is advising against all but essential travel to Norway.
Both SAS and Norwegian airlines have announced that they are cancelling some 80 per cent of their flights from Monday 16 March. All British nationals wishing to leave Norway are advised to consider doing so while some flights are still available.
The Danish Government announced that it was closing its borders for a month from Saturday 14 March. Those normally living and working in Denmark will still be able to enter the country from Norway. In addition, those who need to transit through Denmark in order to return to their place of residence will be able to.
However tourists and those the Danish authorities say cannot demonstrate a recognised purpose to enter Denmark will not be allowed to cross the border.
AITO, The Specialist Travel Association is seeking urgent Government backing to assist its 120-plus SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises), together with many other SME tour operators, to survive in the wake of the global crisis caused as a result of Coronavirus.
AITO’s Head of Commercial, Bharat Gadhoke, said: “The 2018 Package Travel Regulations, or PTRs, are quite simply no longer fit for purpose. The rules, designed to cover normal trading circumstances, cannot function in the current extreme situations in which we find ourselves. We have no option but to add our voice to that of others in the industry to demand Government action to protect our long-established specialist businesses.
“Having to adhere to the PTRs – which require tour operators to refund consumer payments in full should the holiday company prove unable to fulfil a package - places hundreds of companies in the simply untenable position of being a lender of last resort.
He added: “We urgently call on Government, instead, to invest significantly in the long-term survival of SME tour operators and travel agents by altering the scope of the PTRs to enable agents and operators legally to defer planned holidays – or, at least, to refund only monies that suppliers have refunded to them, having first taken a reasonable margin to cover the initial work involved in organising the holiday.”
The FCO has advised against all but essential travel to Serbia.
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