For the latest information, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

THE ongoing coronavirus pandemic has affected thousands of people across the globe as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported cases in 144 countries, territories or areas.

As a result of Covid-19, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued travel advice warning people against visiting certain countries due to travel restrictions or the risk of quarantine. The guidance advises against all but essential travel to 31 countries.

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  • China – The FCO advises against all travel to Hubei province due to the outbreak, and against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China. If you are in China and able to leave, the FCO says you should do so.
  • United States – On Saturday, the US government extended an existing European travel ban to the UK and Ireland, with the exception of returning US citizens and legal residents. As a result, the FCO updated its advice yesterday and advises against all but essential travel to the whole country.
  • Italy – The FCO advises against all but essential travel to all of Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia. Authorities in Italy have advised against travel for tourism purposes and said tourists already on holiday in Italy should limit their movements to those necessary to return to the place where they live.
  • Spain – The FCO updated its advice on Spain in the early hours of yesterday, advising against all but essential travel to the whole country. Previously, the Spanish ministry of health declared the areas of Madrid and La Rioja, and the municipalities of La Bastida and Vitoria, and Miranda de Ebro, as places where there is community transmission of coronavirus and the FCO advised against all but essential travel to those regions.
  • Denmark – British nationals are advised against all but essential travel to the whole country, after Danish authorities announced they would be closing the borders for a month in response to the pandemic. Foreign nationals who “do not have a recognised purpose for entering Denmark” will be barred from entry.
  • Norway – The department advises against all but essential travel to Norway, after the Norwegian authorities said that all non-resident visitors arriving from countries other than Finland and Sweden would be asked to leave Norway on arrival. British nationals legally resident in Norway will be allowed to enter the country but must enter self-quarantine for 14 days.
  • Poland – The FCO advises against all but essential travel to the country, owing to restrictions being put in place following the outbreak, which has seen borders closed and border controls introduced. Non-Polish nationals will only be able to enter the country if they are a spouse or child of a Polish national, hold a Pole’s Card, or otherwise have the right to stay or work in the country.

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  • British nationals aged 70 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions are advised against cruise ship travel.
  • The FCO also advises against all but essential travel to Argentina, Albania, Burma, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kosovo, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Malta, Mongolia, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Partial or complete border closures due to Covid-19 are the reason for the warnings for Albania, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, San Marino, Slovakia, and Sri Lanka.
  • Travellers are advised against all but essential travel to parts of Portugal and South Korea.