Countries to Avoid Travelling This New Year As COVID Surges

With the New Year coming up soon, many people are planning vacations and trips to mark the beginning of 2023. However, considering the current increases in COVID-19 cases in certain countries, it may be advisable to avoid travelling to a number of countries.

Due to high rates of COVID-19 transmission, it is recommended to avoid travelling to the following countries for New Year’s travel:

Countries to Avoid Travelling Amid COVID Surges

1. China

Even though the country has recently relaxed most travel restrictions, it is not recommended that you visit China right now. China tops the list of countries to avoid foreign travel because of a record number of infections.

Chinese officials estimate that about 250 million people (18% of the population) became infected with Covid-19 in the first 20 days of December after Beijing abruptly lifted restrictions that had kept the disease at bay for nearly three years.

This has worried the rest of the world, which is gearing up to impose strict travel restrictions and introduce aggressive testing norms.

2. Japan

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Japan is reporting more than 2 lakh new cases every day. Japan has reported 456,000 COVID-19 cases and approximately 8,000 deaths. To attempt to prevent the spread of the virus, the country has implemented measures such as mask mandates and capacity limits.

3. United States

With over 32 million cases and over 580,000 deaths, the United States has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world. The country is currently experiencing a surge in COVID cases. According to reports, the United States has reported over 15 lakh cases in the last 28 days.

4. South Korea

South Korea has estimated nearly 70,000 COVID-19 cases and approximately 1,300 deaths till now. In the last seven days, the country reported an average of 67,000 cases per day. South Korea has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks, particularly in the capital city of Seoul. According to reports, daily cases have been steadily increasing for several weeks in the midst of a winter wave.

5. France

France has reported a total of around 3.5 million COVID-19 cases and around 90,000 deaths. The country is currently experiencing an increase in cases and has implemented measures to control the virus’s spread. France has also seen an increase in cases, with approximately 3,27,000 cases reported in the last seven days. Given how quickly the disease is spreading, it is wise to avoid visiting France.

6. Brazil

Brazil has reported a total of around 10 million COVID-19 cases and around 250,000 deaths. Brazil, which is currently experiencing a significant increase in cases, is also reporting a high number of Covid cases and has been registering more than 3,00,000 new cases daily in the last 7  days.

7. Germany

Germany has reported a total of around 2.5 million COVID-19 cases and around 70,000 deaths. Germany has been registering more than 40,000 cases per day in recent days, and the country has implemented measures such as mask mandates and capacity limits to try to limit the virus’s spread.

Meanwhile, India reported 188 new Covid cases on December 27 compared to 166 the previous day, according to Health Ministry data. Also, India mandated the RT-PCR test for all international passengers arriving from five Asian countries: China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand. 

Bottomline

While these are just a few examples, it is important to stay up to date on the current situation in any country you wish to visit, as well as to consider the risks of travel.

If you do decide to travel during the New Year, make sure to follow all health and safety precautions to protect yourself and those around you. Wearing a mask, practising social distancing, and getting tested for COVID-19 before and after your trip are all options.