The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has shot up by 13,903 in one day, according to the World Health Organisation, with 167,511 people around the world infected with Covid-19 as of 16 March.
As the deadly outbreak continues to spread, countries around the world are closing their borders and entering lockdown.
The FCO has extended its list of countries to avoid as new travel restrictions mean it’s getting harder to get in and out of countries.
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The Independent has compiled a list of the travel bans in place but for the latest, follow our coverage here…
We know that flying customers back to the UK is the right thing to do. With this responsibility in mind, we are continuing to operate our scheduled programme, with aircraft flying empty from the UK so that we can fill them and bring customers home.In addition to that programme of scheduled flights, we are putting on extra aircraft to bring customers home, some of who may not have been offered flights home by their airline.
- helen.coffey
- 17 March 2020 14:26
“Without travel and tourism, economies around the world face an existential threat.
“To counter this, WTTC, which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, is calling upon governments of all countries to take immediate action to help ensure the survival of this critical job-creating sector. Not soon. Not in a few weeks. NOW. Any delay will be costed in millions of lost jobs and almost incalculable damage worldwide.”
The WTTC is proposing three measures:
- Financial help must be granted to protect the incomes of the millions of workers in the sector facing severe economic difficulties.
- Governments must extend vital, unlimited interest-free loans to global Travel & Tourism companies as well as the millions of small and medium sized businesses as a stimulus to prevent them from collapse.
- All government taxes, dues and financial demands on the travel sector need to be waived with immediate effect at least for the next 12 months.
- helen.coffey
- 17 March 2020 14:21
Ryanair Group Airlines (including Buzz and Lauda) announced today that it is unchecking in all customers booked onto flights departing Spain from 21 to 28 March and is advising them to apply for a free move to an alternative date via its online service.
It comes after the airline was forced to severely reduce flights to and from Spain and the Balearic and Canary Islands after the Spanish Government announced a “lock down” of the entire country to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
- helen.coffey
- 17 March 2020 13:53
Coronavirus: British Airways warns pilots of job losses as it continues to axe flights
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 13:35
You must follow the advice of local authorities. Your safety and security is the responsibility of the local authority where you are. If you wish to leave the country you are in, contact your airline or travel company and your insurance provider as soon as you are able, and keep up to date with the latest developments. International travel may become more difficult. We only organise assisted departure in exceptional circumstances.
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 13:17
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 13:15
As countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice.
Coronavirus: UK government advises against all global travel with ‘immediate effect’
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 12:56
Australians ordered to return home amid pandemic
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 12:52
Coronavirus: Which countries have travel bans?
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 12:42
Coronavirus: UK airports ‘will shut down within weeks’ without government intervention
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 12:16
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 11:56
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 11:44
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 11:29
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 11:19
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 11:03
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 10:45
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 10:29
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 09:59
Transport services will be operating at reduced levels. Public gatherings are banned, most shops, many businesses and all schools and universities are closed, and residents have been instructed to remain at home as much as possible. There are limited, specific exceptions to the requirement to remain at home, in particular in order to buy food or other essential items, to return home to the primary residence, to go to work if unable to work from home and to carry out caring or similar duties.
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 09:43
- Qin Xie
- 17 March 2020 09:23
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