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The NSW Government and the Commonwealth have announced plans to begin a trial of home quarantine in Greater Sydney that will start within weeks. The pilot, to be operated and monitored by NSW Health and NSW Police, will trial a seven day home quarantine program for around 175 people. Currently, people coming to NSW from overseas must quarantine in a hotel for 14 days. Participants in the pilot must have had both doses of a TGA-accredited COVID-19 vaccine. The participants will be selected by NSW Health, based on a risk assessment framework, and may include some NSW residents, some non-Australian residents and some Qantas air crew. The isolation period will be reduced from 14 to seven days. The pilot program is being run in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.

The Hilltops local government area will enter a week-long lockdown from 6:00pm on Friday, 17 September 2021, NSW Health has confirmed. The stay-at-home orders apply to anyone in the areas, or anyone who has been in the Hilltops LGA including Young and surrounding areas since September 3, and the Glen Innes LGA since September 13.

Key Event: Twelve regional LGAs will join a growing sector of country NSW enjoying freedom, after lockdown was lifted across much of the state’s south and west. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced lockdown would be lifted in the Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and the Upper Hunter.

Border restrictions into Queensland will be reinstated for the City of Lismore. Queensland will re-introduce restrictions to people who were in the City of Lismore from 6:00pm on Thursday, 16 September 2021. Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said this means anyone who has been in the local government area in the last 14 days may not enter Queensland.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has announced that Lismore and Albury are going into a seven-day lockdown from 6:00pm on Thursday, 16 October 2021.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that from 11:59pm on Wednesday, 15 September 2021, Ballarat will go into a one-week lockdown. At the same day/time, the current lockdown in Shepparton will be lifted.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced curfew imposed on 12 Sydney LGAs will be lifted from tonight (Wednesday, 15 October 2021). The curfew had been in place to stop people leaving their homes for non-essential reasons between 9pm and 5am.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has announced that the lockdown in the ACT has been extended by four weeks. The lockdown is now scheduled to end at 11:59pm on Friday, 15 October 2021.

Yesterday Jacinda Ardern announced a further extension to Auckland's Level 4 lockdown, with the region now scheduled to drop to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm on Tuesday the 21st of September.

The United Arab Emirates will allow vaccinated residents with valid visas, who were on the travel ban list, from countries like India to return starting from September 12, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Friday. The decision includes passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

Saudia will return to Manchester Airport in December for the first time in 21 months as it relaunches its direct service to Jeddah. The first flight is set to depart on Wednesday, December 15th from the recently reopened Terminal Two, which has been expanded and modernized as part of a £1 billion transformation program.

The Yass Valley Council area in regional New South Wales has been placed back into lockdown for two weeks after the discovery of a COVID-19 case. NSW Health announced on Monday afternoon stay-at-home orders will come into effect from 12:01am on Tuesday, 14 September 2021. The new rules apply to residents as well as anyone who has been in the area on or after 9 September. Everyone must wear a face mask in all indoor or outdoor areas other than a place of residence.

South Africa will move to adjusted alert level two from Monday 13 September 2021. The following measures will be implemented: A curfew will be in place between 11h00 pm and 04h00 am. All gatherings are permitted however only a minimum of 250 people indoors and 500 people outdoors will be allowed. Where a venue does not permit these numbers, only 50% of the capacity of the venue will be permitted. Non-essential establishments such as restaurants, taverns, bars and fitness centers may open however will need to close by 22h00 pm in light of curfew. The sale of alcohol at retail outlets for off-site consumption is only permitted Monday to Friday, between 10h00 am and 18h00 pm. The sale of alcohol for on-site consumption is permitted as per licensing conditions and up to 22h00pm. All international travellers arriving in South Africa must produce a negative PCR test, to be presented on arrival and not older than 72 hours from the date of departure from the country of origin. A person entering the Republic must be subjected to screening on arrival at the point of entry, including the completion of a traveller health questionnaire. A person who, during screening, is found to have had exposure to COVID-19 or is presenting with any signs and symptoms of COVID-19, must be subjected to a medical examination which may include testing and isolation. A person who is not in possession of a valid negative COVID-19 PCR rest will be subject to antigen testing at the point of entry and may be subject to quarantine at an approved facility at his or her own cost. South Africans are permitted to travel freely internationally as mentioned during the ministerial brief on 30 September 2020, however will be required to check the entry requirements of the country they wish to travel to. With the emergence of COVID-19 variants, some countries have decided to restrict entry from South Africa for a period of time. Some entry restrictions and border closures remain in effect globally. Any returning South African citizens and residents will be subject to entry regulations and protocols and may be required to enter quarantine.

The QLD Government has reinstated the border bubble with NSW. From 1:00am on Monday, 13 September 2021, students and essential workers will be able to travel from the 12 NSW LGAs, where restrictions have eased, into QLD. Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Moree Plains, Gwydir, Clarence Valley, Inverell, Glen Innes, Severn Shire, Tenterfield, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Lismore are the 12 LGAs.

Bahrain has now eased travel restrictions for Indians by withdrawing it from the red list. The Embassy of India in Bahrain in a tweet informed that Indian nationals with a valid visa are eligible to enter Bahrain with effect from September 3, 2021 subject to conditions.

Parts of regional NSW currently deemed low risk and which have seen zero COVID cases for at least 14 days will emerge from lockdown at 12:01am on Saturday, 11 September 2021. Lockdown remains in place in the following LGAs: Bathurst, Bega, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Dubbo, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn, Mulwarre, Kiama, Lake Macquarie, Lithgow, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, Newcastle, Orange, Parkes, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Upper Hunter, Walgett, Wingecarribee.

Saudi Arabia removed the UAE, Argentina, and South Africa from its entry-banned country list and re-allowed citizens to travel to the three countries starting September 8, state TV reported on Tuesday. The Ministry of Interior said the decision was based on the Kingdom's evaluation of the current Covid-19 situation, state media reported. The Saudi ministry has, however, stressed the importance of adhering to all the precautionary measures, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed regional Victoria will be released from lockdown from 11.59pm on Thursday, 09 September 2021, but some restrictions will remain. Regional Victorians will be allowed to leave their homes for any reason, and there will be no distance limits. The authorised worker permits will no longer apply but offices will only be permitted 25 per cent of staff onsite, with a maximum of 10 workers. Schools will reopen for grades prep to year two and year 12 students. All other grades will continue with remote learning. Up to 20 guests will be allowed at funerals and 10 at weddings plus those officiating the service. The Greater Shepparton region will be excluded.

Fully vaccinated South Africans can now visit Canada for non-essential purposes without needing to quarantine. After a tentative reopening plan, the updated regulations were finalised and came into effect today 7 September. Children between the ages of 12 and 17 need to be vaccinated to avoid quarantine. However, vaccines in South Africa have not yet been approved for anyone under the age of 18, so teenagers will still need to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.

Israel will allow small foreign tour groups from selected countries to visit from 19 September under a pilot program to kick-start tourism. Tour groups of 5 – 30 people from countries on Israel's green, yellow, and orange lists will be allowed to enter the country, provided all group members have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Foreign tourists must show proof they have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months, or a booster shot. They must also show a negative PCR test, taken up to 72 hours before arrival, and undergo a serological test once they land at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.