Due to the Spread of the Delta Variant... Countries Tighten Quarantine Measures

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the spread of the Delta variant virus causes the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide to rise sharply again, countries are tightening their quarantine measures.

According to foreign media on the 27th (local time), Germany has decided to ban entry for people coming from variant virus concern areas such as Portugal and Russia. German nationals and residents must also quarantine for two weeks before being allowed to enter.

There are reports that Germany will additionally designate the United Kingdom as a variant virus concern area starting on the 29th.

Thailand will reimpose restrictions from the 29th, and Malaysia will enter a nationwide lockdown for one month.

Bangladesh will also enforce a seven-day travel ban starting from the 1st of next month. The BBC reported, "Bus terminals in the capital Dhaka were crowded with people trying to move to other regions before the travel ban took effect."

Sydney began a two-week lockdown from this day, and cities in the Northern Territory such as Darwin, Palmerston, and Litchfield also entered strict lockdowns. New Zealand decided to suspend 'quarantine-free entry' for people coming from Australia for three days.

Japan, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, is expected to extend the "Priority Preventive Measures for Spread Control" (a step before declaring a state of emergency) applied to Tokyo until the 11th of next month. Israel, which had thrown off masks, also reinstated the indoor mask-wearing mandate from this day.

However, in Europe, where vaccination rates are high, some countries are still easing quarantine measures. Spain and the Netherlands have lifted the outdoor mask-wearing mandate, and Switzerland has eased most quarantine measures.

Alain Berset, Swiss Minister of Health, said, "We believe that immunity against the Delta variant is sufficiently formed when vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.