How to Travel During Pandemic COVID-19?

Life has changed all over the world because of Corona. Apart from organizing festivals, many people have cancelled their plans to visit different places for this reason. However, with the coronavirus vaccination process around the world, some are preparing to go out again.

[Update 22 Aug 2021]

Bhutan opens doors for tourists

Doors have been opened for Bangladeshi tourists in Bhutan. Tourists must stay in quarantine for at least 21 days to visit Bhutan. They have to pay the Bhutanese government-prescribed fee for each day. In addition to the minimum daily fee for travel, the cost of all kinds of covid tests will be required. In addition to this, there must be health insurance.

Even after returning to Bhutan from Dhaka, the Prime Minister of the country Lotte Shering and her tour companions will be in quarantine for 21 days. 

Bhutan's Prime Minister Dr Lotte Shering said, "The government has never stopped tourists from coming to Bhutan. But looking back on the year, we, like the rest of the world, stood helpless. But now we are able to tighten the waist a bit. 

So tourists are welcome. But it is mandatory for every tourist to abide by all the codes of conduct, including strict guidelines.

Although many countries around the world are frustrated by the corona infection, Bhutan has virtually no infection. 

Although a small number of people were infected in the first wave, no new infections have been reported since then. The vaccination process is now being completed in Bhutan. That is why strict conditions have been imposed to prevent infection.

[Update 05 Aug 2021]

The United Kingdom has red-listed 59 countries

The United Kingdom has red-listed 59 high-risk countries, including Bangladesh, for international travel to combat coronavirus infection. At the same time, citizens of the United Kingdom have been banned from travelling to these countries.

According to the country's government website, if you have been in a red-listed country for the past 10 days, you will not be able to travel to the UK in any way. However, British citizens, Irish citizens and those who have a residence permit in the UK can travel to the UK from the red-listed countries.

Although 59 countries, including Bangladesh, are on the UK's red list, India, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been exempted from the list. Those four countries have got a place in the list from red to brown. As a result, anyone travelling to the UK from these four countries will not have to pay the 11-day hotel quarantine bill.

The British government recently changed their travel restrictions; Which will be effective from next Sunday. That is why India will be included in the updated travel list of the United Kingdom from August 8.

The British government has also created a green monitoring list to identify countries that are likely to be included in the green to brown list. The UK has implemented this traffic light system since May 17. At the time, the British daily Guardian reported that flights from the four red-listed countries had not been banned. Residents of British, Irish and British from these countries have been advised to return to Britain using commercial routes.

The government directive states, ‘Only British and Irish citizens or those who have the right to reside in the UK (including long-term visa holders); They will be allowed to enter Britain and will have to spend 10 days in a mandatory government-approved quarantine installation. Besides, they have to reach a designated port. '

59 countries in the red list

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ecuador French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, India, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The government has instructed that any British citizen returning to the UK after travelling to a high-risk or red-listed country must observe the Hotel Quarantine. The decision was made to prevent new coronavirus infections and the spread of variants, according to the UK Ministry of Transport.

The country's transport minister, Grant Shaps, said it was impossible to travel to a red-listed country without a difficult situation.

For the first time, Britain listed 30 countries and territories on February 15 for high-risk corona. Later some more countries were added to this list. At present, the number of countries on the red list has reached 60. Georgia, Mexico, La Reunion and Mayotte are the latest on the list.

Anyone travelling to Britain from a red-listed country or territory without exception must stay in a 10-day hotel quarantine. You will also need to show a certificate of the Covid-19 test taken just before the trip to the UK. The first and second RT-PCR tests must be performed eight days after arrival in the country.

Why Bangladesh is on the red list?

Bangladesh has been included in the red list of travel to Britain due to the identification of an alarming variant of coronavirus Delta and the increase in the incidence of the epidemic.

A report released by the Global Travel Task Force on April 9 states that the main criteria for considering a country at risk are the rate of corona infection in that country, the spread of the alarming variant and the progress of vaccination activities. It also takes into account the reliability of epidemiological information and the ability to genome sequencing.

The rate of daily corona infection in Bangladesh has been around 25 to 33 per cent for the last 5 weeks. On the other hand, despite the increase in vaccination rates, the daily death toll in Corona is still above 200. All this indicates a high probability of being positive for travellers and tourists; That is why the country is on the red list.

[Update 02 Aug 2021]

Travel to Phuket Island does not require quarantine

The Thai government has reopened Phuket Island to revive the troubled tourism sector in Corona. In this case, visitors do not have to do any quarantine. However, if you want to go to another part of the country, you have to stay on the island for 14 days. News agency Reuters and AFP.

Those who have received the Covid-19 vaccine and have corona negative do not need to be quarantined on a trip to Phuket, the report said. In the first phase, a group of international tourists arrived there on Thursday (July 1). They have the opportunity to spend their free time on the island.

Most of the tourists arriving in Phuket are from different countries in the Middle East. The British media, the BBC, say they will not be able to travel from the island to mainland Thailand within 14 days without quarantine.

The new program is called ‘Phuket Sandbox’. It is expected to add 278 million to the country's economy in the next three months.

[Update 02 Aug 2021]

Sikkim is open for those who are thirsty for travel

Sikkim was closed to tourists due to the coronavirus epidemic. Eventually, the door opened again for the travel thirsty. That's why tourists can travel there with the coronavirus vaccine. The Indian government had imposed a travel ban on Sikkim from March this year due to the rising incidence of corona infection. The Tomas of India has given this information in a report.

The state of Sikkim in India is surrounded by natural beauty. Many domestic and foreign tourists visit there every year. For many, the state has also received the badge of Switzerland. However, the Indian government had banned travel to Sikkim due to the increase in coronary heart disease.

It is learned that the tourism sector is being relaxed to cope with the losses as the number of infections has come down in the country. The door of Sikkim has opened as a part of this. However, if you want to enter there, you have to come with two doses of vaccine. For this, you have to show the vaccination certificate. If you do not have a certificate, you will not be allowed to enter.

A statement from the Sikkim state government said the state has been open for tourism since Monday. If the corona is negative, then the entry will be allowed.

[Update 27 July 2021]

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the ban on Hajj and Umrah for foreigners visiting Saudi Arabia has been suspended for a long time, but this time the ban on performing Umrah has been relaxed for some countries, including Bangladesh.

From August 10, the Saudi government will allow foreign worshipers to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

According to the Arabic calendar, the date is the first Muharram 1443.

Such information has been given on the official page of Saudi Hajj and Umrah called Haramain Sharifain.

However, this time some conditions have been imposed on the worshipers who want to perform Umrah from abroad. These are:

Worshipers wishing to perform Umrah can enter Saudi Arabia on direct flights from all over the world except in 9 countries.

The nine countries are India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Lebanon.

You can read more:

However, if a devotee from these countries wants to enter Saudi Arabia, they have to go to Saudi Arabia only after completing 14 days of quarantine in a third country other than those 9 countries.

In addition, everyone wishing to perform Umrah must be vaccinated with the full dose of coronavirus.

And that vaccine would be Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson. These vaccines cannot be entered in Saudi Arabia without taking two doses.

If someone has taken two doses of the Chinese-made Synoform vaccine, they will need to take an additional booster dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Only those 18 years of age or older will be allowed to perform Umrah.

What to do when travelling in a corona situation?

But experts say that even if the corona vaccine comes out, it is still important to be careful about corona. Some precautions need to be taken, especially when travelling. E.g.

Travelling with your family during COVID-19

1. Wherever you go, don't stop using masks. Not even in crowded places. Because in that case, you have to remember, you can spread the infection yourself in one way or another.

2. If you want to travel, you have to stay in a hotel. In that case, you have to take the responsibility of keeping the hotel room clean. It is better to take your own blanket or blanket. It is better not to use the towel provided by the hotel.

• Enhanced cleaning procedures
• Social distancing measures
• Masking of staff and guests
• Contactless payment
• Protocol in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting

3. If you have to eat out, you can use a one-time plate on the hotel plate.

4. It is important to wash, sanitize and disinfect bed pillows frequently.

5. It is better to choose a relatively empty place now, rather than a crowded place to visit.

6. Remember, the protection of others depends on your protection.

7. Keep the local hospital number, ambulance number close at hand when travelling.

8. If you feel such a problem while travelling, it is better to see a doctor without avoiding it.

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