Fifteen days in December: capture and analysis of Omicron-related travel restrictions

Abstract

Following the identification of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in late November 2021, governments worldwide took actions intended to minimise the impact of the new variant within their borders. Despite guidance from the WHO advising a risk-based approach, many rapidly implemented stringent policies focused on travel restrictions. In this paper, we capture 221 national-level travel policies issued during the 3 weeks following publicisation of the Omicron variant. We characterise policies based on whether they target travellers from specific countries or focus more broadly on enhanced screening, and explore differences in approaches at the regional level. We find that initial reactions almost universally focused on entry bans and flight suspensions from Southern Africa, and that policies continued to target travel from these countries even after community transmission of the Omicron variant was detected elsewhere in the world. While layered testing and quarantine requirements were implemented by some countries later in this 3-week period, these enhanced screening policies were rarely the first response. The timing and conditionality of quarantine and testing requirements were not coordinated between countries or regions, creating logistical complications and burdening travellers with costs. Overall, response measures were rarely tied to specific criteria or adapted to match the unique epidemiology of the new variant.

Keywords: COVID-19; control strategies; health policy; screening.

Figure 1

Map illustrating the number of Omicron-related travel restrictions that imposed specific measures against each country, 24 November 2021–15 December 2021. Countries in which confirmed omicron cases had been reported as of 15 December are outlined in yellow.

Figure 2

Following an initial burst of travel policies targeted to specific countries, over time measures became slightly more focused on enhancing screening measures such as testing for all travellers—though initial entry bans were rarely rescinded.

Figure 3

The number of travel restrictions issued by countries in each WHO region between 24 November and 15 December 2021, indicating whether the policies were targeted to specific countries or were relevant to all incoming travellers. AFRO, Regional Offices include Africa; EMRO, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean; EURO, Regional Offices include Europe; SEARO, Regional Office for South-East Asia; WPRO, Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

Figure 4

Categorical breakdown of travel restriction policies instituted by countries in each WHO region from 24 November to 15 December 2021. AFRO, Regional Offices include Africa; EMRO, Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean; EURO, Regional Offices include Europe; SEARO, Regional Office for South-East Asia; WPRO, Regional Office for the Western Pacific.