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It has been announced that major U.S. airlines are set to assist public health officials by asking for the personal information of passengers arriving in the country, in a bid to speed up potential contact tracing needs. The information that the airlines will be asking of its US-bound international passengers is as follows: legal name, two phone numbers, email address and the address of where travellers will be staying in the US - or address of permanent residence in the US. Submitting the information is voluntary, with passengers not obligated to pass on such information when asked to do so.

The country's government has announced that from today, 22 February, the city of Auckland's COVID-19 alert level has been reduced to 'one', the lowest classification, at which the rest of the country also currently sits. At level 'one', face masks must be worn on public transport and domestic flights.

The country's government has announced an easing of some local COVID-19 restrictions, following evidence that a vaccine program in the country is proving effective; a number of facilities and services are now able to re-open,including gyms, hotels and synagogues. However, they require a ‘green passport’, a certificate that can only be obtained once you have been vaccinated. In addition, crowds are now allowed back at concerts, and sporting events have reopened at 75% capacity - however they have a cap of no more than 300 people inside and 500 outside. Despite this easing of local restrictions, Israel's main airport in Tel Aviv will remain closed for a further two weeks.

The country's civil aviation authority has announced that it has submitted a proposal to Kuwait's government for the lifting of a flight suspension on services travelling directly from a list of 35 countries deemed 'high-risk' for COVID-19. The proposal would however stipulate that all passengers would be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine and two COVID-19 PCR tests at their own expense; the flight suspension was first announced on 1 August and incuded 31 countries, with more later added.

The government of New Zealand has announced a decision to extend a current 72 hour suspension of quarantine-free flights to Australia, for a further 72 hours from 00.01 (local time) on 17 February; this measure follows the seperate decision to downgrade the COVID-19 alert level status of Auckland from 'three' to 'two' and the rest of the country from 'two' to 'one', at the of a national three day 'lockdown'.

The country's government has announced that from 23.59 (local time) this evening, 17 February, the city of Auckland will enter alert level 'two' and the rest of New Zealand will enter alert level 'one'; this follows a three day 'lockdown' at alert level 'three' in Auckland, with the rest of the country at alert level 'two'. These alert levels will be reviewed by the government on Monday 22 February.

The low-cost Kuwait-based airline has announced that it will be launching direct flights between Kuwait and the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo twice per week; the first service is due to depart on 21 February.

The country's government has published further guidance for incoming travellers to Canada, including on new hotel quarantine measures, which will come into effect from 22 February. All travellers are to be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained no more than 72 hours prior to their departure, and must only arrive via airports in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Passengers will also be subject to PCR testing upon arrival, and must complete a three-night stay in a government-authorised hotel followed by 11 days of self-isolation; hotel stays must be booked in advance from 18 February, when the portal opens. The cost of the hotel quarantine will be the responsibility of the traveller and will stand at up to $2000 (CAD) per person. From 22 February, travellers entering Canada at the land border will also be required to take a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.

The country's government announced yesterday, 14 February, that it had stopped most cross border travel between regions in its south and east, and the neighbouring countries of Czech Republic and Austria; the measures were taken in a bid to prevent COVID-19 variants from spreading, and are set to remain in place for at least 10 days. State-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn has also suspended services to and from the affected areas. Only a handful of exemptions including returning German citizens, essential workers and trade links are permitted. Slovakia was also subject to new German restrictions from 14 February following concerns over virus variants, despite not sharing a land border with the country. Controls may soon also be installed at the border with the Moselle region in eastern France due to similar concerns.

The country's government has published updated COVID-19 travel restrictions for some regions; among them, the entire state of Quintana Roo (including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum and Isla Mujeres) is open for tourism. There are also no limits on the numbers of tourists that arrive to Cancun's international Airport. Travellers are not required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before they travel to Cancun, or to quarantine upon arrival. However, hotels and restaurants are limited to 50% capacity, and masks are required in all public areas including resorts.

London's Luton Airport has welcomed the news that rail operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) is set to introduce a new half hourly non-stop service between London St Pancras and Luton Airport Parkway, the station serving the airport. The new service will be introduced as part of the May 2021 timetable change and is the first significant step towards a separately-branded ‘Luton Airport Express’ service. The service will operate using electric trains and run every 30 minutes between 06.00 and 22.00 (local time) daily, with additional late night and early morning services to serve departures from the airport.

The country's government has announced that from 23.59 (local time) this evening, 14 February, New Zealand will enter a three day COVID-19 'lockdown' in response to the discovery of three cases of the virus within the community in Auckland; the city will move to the country's alert level 'three', and the rest of the country will move to alert level 'two' for an expected period of three days until 23.59 (local time) on 17 February.

The country's government has announced that, while South Africa will remain at COVID-19 adjusted alert level 'three' until further notice, it will now re-open 20 land border crossing points fully. The crossing points, which were already partially operationally, will now become fully operational; however, an additional 33 land border crossing points will remain closed. Meanwhile, international air travel remains limited to OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. All international travellers arriving at these airports must produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure. Passengers will also be subjected to screening on arrival and the completion of a traveller health questionnaire.

The governments of a number of states and territories in Australia have announced further border restrictions for travellers from the state of Victoria following a recent COVID-19 outbreak; among them, the state of Queensland will now close its border to arrivals from Victoria for 14 days from 01.00 (local time) on 13 February. In addition, the Northern Territory (NT) has declared the Victorian area of Greater Melbourne a COVID-19 hotspot, with any travellers from the area arriving in the NT to be directed into 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine. Western Australia (WA) will also impose a 72-hour 'hard' border closure with Victoria starting at 18.00 (local time) on 12 February, and Tasmania will declare Victoria 'high risk' state, with travellers from Victoria to be required to isolate for 14 days. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents in Victoria are asked to remain and participate in the five day lockdown, and any ACT residents returning home after 00.01 (local time) on 13 February will be required to self-quarantine until 17 February. Anyone in New South Wales (NSW) who has been in Victoria at any time on or after 29 January is directed to follow 'stay at home' rules from midnight tonight, 12 February, until 23.59 (local time) on 17 February.

The country's government has published updated entry restrictions for international arrivals from some countries, in a further bid to limit the spread of new variants of COVID-19; if passengers have been in or transited through the UK, South Africa , Japan or Brazil within the previous 15 days they won't be permitted to enter Mauritius until at least 28 February. Arrivals must also undergo COVID-19 (PCR) testing no more than seven days prior to departure for Mauritius, in addition to testing on arrival, and and on days seven and 14 of a mandatory hotel quarantine period. Locally, social distancing measures and face masks are mandated in public, including in workplaces and on public transport.

The government of the Australian state of Victoria have announced the introduction of a five day COVID-19 'lockdown' from 23.59 (local time) on 12 February until 23.59 (local time) on 17 February; the measure has been announced in response to a COVID-19 outbreak in a quarantine hotel. There will only be four reasons that people in the state can leave their homes: essential supplies, care and caregiving, exercise and essential work. Exercise and shopping will be limited to within a 5km radius from home, face masks will need to be worn indoors and outdoors, and no visitors are to be permitted to homes. Travellers can check Victoria's COVID-19 portal for a full list of restrictions.

The country's government has suspended all international travel, with the exception of those travelling to the island of Nosy Be, located close to the country's north-western coast. All incoming passengers travelling to the island must remain there, with the exception of Malagasy citizens and residents who are permitted to travel on to their final destination elsewhere. All passengers arriving from countries categorised as 'high-risk' for the virus, however, will be denied entry into Madagascar. Arrivals must also present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained a maximum of 72 hours prior to travel but may be subject to further testing with a period of self-isolation.

The government of the state of South Australia (SA)has announced it will close its border to residents of the Greater Melbourne area, within the state of Victoria, as of midnight on 10 February. This decision comes after two confirmed cases of COVID-19 were linked to a Melbourne hotel; residents of regional areas in the state of Victoria are so far unaffected by the measure.

U.S. low-cost airline Southwest Airlines has announced a partnership with COVID-19 testing provider CityHealth Urgent Care, to bring pre-flight testing to California's San Jose International Airport for passengers bound for the state of Hawaii; testing will be available for as little as $20 (USD) via the airline, who are one of three carriers now providing this service from the airport.

The country's government has announced that it will extend current COVID-19 'lockdown' measures until at least 7 March amid concerns over new variants of the virus. The measures were previously due to expire on 14 February.