4D ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 ❚ USA TODAY E2 NEWS
TRAVEL
As the world works to slow the spread of coronavirus, countries have imposed a variety of travel restrictions.The measures include suspending international flights and banning travelers from impacted countries, to requiring citizens
or foreign nationals to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Government officials across the globe say the travel bans are critical to containing the rapidly spreading coronavirus. World-
wide, more than 7,800 people have died from the virus, and more than 195,000 have been infected, according to Johns Hop-
kins data. In the U.S. alone there are more than 5,700 confirmed cases with the death toll at 94.The following is a running list of travel restrictions compiled from government agencies and elected officials.North AmericaUnited StatesAll foreign nationals from China, Iran
and certain European countries are
barred from entering the United
States. This ban includes anyone who
visited these countries within the 14
days prior to their U.S. trip.
The European countries include Aus-
tria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Den-
mark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ger-
many, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Lux-
embourg, Malta, Netherlands, Nor-
way, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slo-
venia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom and Ireland.U.S. citizens are allowed to return
home but must fly into 13 designated
airports and undergo “enhanced en-
try screening.”
CanadaOn Monday, Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau announced he was
closing the country’s border to non-
citizens. American citizens are ex-
empt.
MexicoMexico does not have restrictions.South AmericaArgentina
All foreigners who are not residents
of Argentina are banned from enter-
ing the country until April 1.Bolivia
On March 13, Interim President Jean-
ine Añez suspended all flights to and
from Europe.Paraguay
The country canceled flights from
Auscion to Madrid, which is the only
direct route into Europe, for the rest
of the month.port issued by Hubei or the Zhejiang
Provinces and those who have visited
Iran, Italy, San Marino and South Korea
in the last 14 days are banned.
ThailandTravelers who have been in the United
States in the last 14 days will be subject
to “self-monitoring and reporting re-
quirements.” Travelers from Iran, Italy,
China, Korea, Hong Kong and Macao
must submit proof to their airline at
check-in that they tested negative and
show proof of a health insurance policy
with coverage of at least $100,000.
IsraelForeign nationals are banned from
entering. The government will make an
exception for foreigners who can prove
they have a place where they can self-
quarantine for two weeks. However,
that exception does not include foreign
nationals from China, South Korea,
Thailand, Italy, Macao, Singapore,
Hong Kong, Japan and Egypt.
Saudi ArabiaAs of March 15, all international flights
to and from Saudi Arabia are suspend-
ed for two weeks.AfricaSouth Africa
The country has imposed a travel ban
on foreign nationals from “high-risk
countries” including the United States,
Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germa-
ny, the United Kingdom and China.Kenya
The Ministry of Health in Kenya an-
nounced on Twitter on March 15 that
the country was banning all travelers
from countries that have reported
coronavirus cases.Morocco
In a March 16 update, the government
of Morocco announced it was suspend-
ing all international.EuropeEuropean UnionPresident Ursula von der Leyen an-
nounced on Monday she was restrict-
ing all nonessential travel to the Euro-
pean Union for 30 days. Exemptions
include family members of European
nationals, diplomats, “essential staff”
that are addressing the coronavirus
spread and people transporting goods.AustraliaForeign nationals who have been to
China, Iran, Republic of Korea or Italy
are not allowed to enter Australia for 14
days from the time they left or traveled
through the country. Australian citizens
are exempt, but they will be asked to
self-quarantine for 14 days.
On March 15, the Australian govern-
ment announced all travelers will be
subject to the 14-day quarantine after
arriving, and cruise lines from foreign
ports are banned for 30 days.AsiaChinaPeople traveling to Beijing, Shaghai,
Guangdong Province and Sichuan Prov-
ince will be quarantined for 14 days in a
Chinese facility if they have recently
visited countries with “severe out-
breaks” such as South Korea, Japan,
Iran and Italy.
IndiaThe country has suspended all existing
visas until April 15. Travelers from the
European Union, the European Free
Trade Association, Turkey and United
Kingdom were banned from entering.
Officials added Afghanistan, Philip-
pines and Malaysia to that list.
JapanForeign nationals with a Chinese pass-Coronavirus travel restrictions around the world
LAS VEGAS – Major resorts on the
Las Vegas Strip are now closing in re-
sponse to the spread of coronavirus.
Wynn Resorts will close its two lux-
ury hotel-casinos on the Strip for two
weeks starting Tuesday. MGM will
cease casino operations Monday and
will completely close its properties
Tuesday.
“Despite our commitment to dedi-
cating additional resources for clean-
ing and promoting good health, while
making difficult decisions to close cer-
tain aspects of our operations, it is
now apparent that this is a public
health crisis that requires major col-
lective action if we are to slow its pro-
gression,” Jim Murren, chairman and
CEO of MGM Resorts, said in a state-
ment.
Murren added, “This is a time of un-
certainty across our country and the
globe, and we must all do our part to
curtail the spread of this virus. We will
plan to reopen our resorts as soon as it
safe to do so, and we will continue to
support our employees, guests and
communities in every way that we can
during this period of closure.”
The company announced the clo-
sures of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore
after Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak or-
dered that all K-12 public schools in the
Clark County School District close.
After two weeks, the company will
evaluate the situation, according to a
release sent to investors. Some em-
ployees will stay at the properties to
maintain facilities and security.
MGM will not take reservations for
new arrivals beforer May 1.
The closures follow the suspension
of several hotel amenities at Wynn Las
Vegas, including the buffet, poker
room, sports books, clubs, spas, sa-
lons and fitness centers.
COVID-19 has led to slowed demand
and unprecedented disruptions along
the Las Vegas Strip tourism corridor –
financial fallout now leading to layoffs
and furloughs for thousands.
Wynn CEO Matt Maddox an-
nounced in a video shared with em-
ployees that economic hardships will
intensify for the company.
“Based on what we’re seeing, our
business volumes are going to be ba-
sically empty over the next few
weeks,” Maddox said. “Our hotel occu-
pancy will be in the low teens – and
that, to me, is not our concern. What
our concern is (is) that we all get
through this together.”
But Wynn employees won’t have to
worry about pay, Maddox said.
“What we’re going to do through
these challenging times is make sure
that all of our full-time employees –
whether you’re in a closed outlet or
you’re working here – will be getting
their pay,” he said. “We don’t know
where this is going to end, but we do
know that it will.”
Wynn Resorts announced Saturday
that Encore Boston Harbor will close to
the public for two weeks on Sunday.
Wynn’s decision to close luxury
properties in Las Vegas could be an in-
dication of what’s in store for the rest
of the Las Vegas Strip.
Facing the intensifying spread of
COVID-19 across the U.S., MGM Re-
sorts International last week closed
three hotel-casinos in three states
(New York, Massachusetts and Ohio)
before announcing its Las Vegas deci-
sion on Sunday.
Several employees there have test-
ed positive for COVID-19. One worked
at the Luxor Hotel & Casino on the Las
Vegas Strip, according to MGM
spokesman Brian Ahern. Another
worked at the Wet Republic pool at the
MGM Grand.
“We expect that there will be more
in the coming days,” MGM Resorts
President Bill Hornbuckle wrote in a
letter to employees announcing layoffs
would start next week.
Las Vegas
Strip
resorts are
closing for
COVID-19
Virus fallout has caused
layoffs, furloughs
Ed Komenda
Reno Gazette Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
While many major cruise operators
are idling their fleets in response to the
coronavirus pandemic, some ships are
still at sea or trying to find a port as
they deal with fears that some passen-
gers or crew may have become infected
with COVID-19.
Some have passengers aboard who
either tested positive for COVID-19 or
have coronavirus-related symptoms.
Other ships that have no reported
cases are finding some countries clos-
ing access to ports out of fear they may
harbor undiagnosed cases aboard.
As of Monday night, 97% of Cruise
Line International Association mem-
ber lines had announced a partial or
full suspension of operations world-
wide. However, many ships that were
at sea at the time of the announcement
are still trying to get back to shore.
Those members are focused on get-
ting passengers home, Bari Golin-
Blaugrund, senior director of strategic
communications for CLIA, told USA
TODAY. Here’s the latest:BraemarThe saga of Fred. Olsen Cruises’
Braemar, which has been turned away
from the Dominican Republic and Ba-
hamas and is now anchored off the
coast of Havana, Cuba, appears to be
headed toward resolution.
Three chartered British Airways
flights will depart Havana’s Jose Marti
Airport on Wednesday for London’s
Heathrow Airport, the company said
Tuesday. Most of the 682 passengers
aboard the Braemar are British citizens.
Passengers who are in isolationwith flu-like symptoms, including two
who tested positive for coronavirus, will
be taken back to the U.K. on a separate
flight, along with their companions, the
company said. They will be required to
self-isolate for 14 days upon return.
Any passengers who are not well
enough to fly will receive medical treat-
ment in Cuba, the company said.
Once the evacuation flights arrive,
the Braemar will dock at the port of Ha-
vana for disembarkation.
According to Fred. Olsen, 52 people
(25 guests and 27 crew members) are in
isolation after showing flu-like symp-
toms. Anyone not well enough to fly will
receive medical attention in Cuba.Celebrity SummitThe Celebrity Summit was sailing to-
ward Port Everglades Tuesday to con-
clude its itinerary and help passengers
arrange travel home.
Along with other ships, it was turnedaway following the “arbitrary” closing of
the port in San Juan, Puerto Rico, over
the weekend, Celebrity Cruises said in a
statement on its site.
The line says there were “no issues of
medical concern” for anyone aboard.Celebrity EclipseCelebrity said it was scrambling to
try to bring passengers home from the
Celebrity Eclipse after the port in San
Antonio, Chile closed to all cruise ships.
As of Tuesday morning, Chilean au-
thorities gave the ship permission to re-
fuel and restock in Valparaiso, accord-
ing to an update issued by Celebrity
Cruises. After it does, the Eclipse will
sail to San Diego, where it is scheduled
to arrive later this month.Grand PrincessPrincess Cruises, which is owned by
Carnival Cruise Line, confirmed in a re-
lease overnight Tuesday that more than
half of its 1,113 crew members had left
the Grand Princess.
After the cruise line completed the
disembarkation of all passengers, the
ship moved from Oakland, California,
across to the bay to San Francisco. The
crew members are gradually being al-
lowed to leave the ship as they finish
their quarantine periods.
The Grand Princess had 21 coronavirus
cases aboard – two passengers and 19
crew – by the time it docked, having idled
days off San Francisco Bay waiting for
permission to come in. Another Princess
ship, Diamond Princess, had at least 700
cases after the ship was placed under
quarantine off Japan in February.
Contributing: The Associated Press,
David Oliver, Curtis Tate, USA TODAYCruise lines working to
bring home stranded ships
Chris Woodyard and Morgan Hines
USA TODAYCarnival Cruise Line confirmed more
than half of its 1,113 crew members
have been allowed to leave the Grand
Princess. NOAH BERGER/AP