Daily Times

Countries around the world are increasingly adopting sweeping measures, including full lockdowns, shutting down airports, imposing travel restrictions, and completely sealing their borders to contain the new coronavirus. Contagious and transmissible diseases do not respect any borders. Globalisation has aided in the rapid spread of this disease, and the rise of social media has escalated the flow of information together with the conspiracy theories.

Covid-19 has created jitters around the world. It has encompassed a number of countries, and each of the social stratum of the world population. Its dramatic speed has disrupted lives, communities and businesses worldwide. The French president declared, “We are at war.” With a call for social responsibility, he proclaimed, “We fight neither against an army nor against another nation, but the enemy is there, invisible, elusive and advancing.”

With the coronavirus spreading at a rapid pace, many governments have introduced strict controls on domestic and foreign travel

Italy, with the highest death toll, had Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte calling it the most difficult crisis since World War II and closing all non-essential factories. Boris Johnson has declared that the coronavirus is the biggest threat the country has faced for decades. All over the world, we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer. In the USA, calls are being made akin to the 9/11 commission.

The spread of the virus was labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), and that resulted in lockdowns. A main reason for stress comes from a feeling of uncertainty, and if this has triggered anything on a global scale, it is a sense of moving into the unknown. All that we knew about the usual rhythm of life has changed, and things continue to change as we speak. Schools have closed, there is an economic shutdown, restaurants, malls, theatres, parks, gyms and other avenues of socialisation are out of reach, hospitals are changing care methodologies, travel has come to a standstill, and social distancing has been mandated. Life, as we knew it, seems no more. With the coronavirus spreading at a rapid pace, many governments have introduced strict controls on domestic and foreign travel.

At this time, hundreds of flights have been cancelled as fleets are grounded and the process of reimbursing people is under strain. Cancellation of flights and the closure of borders as a reaction to the coronavirus has left people far from home.

Below is a list of countries that have taken such measures in the recent days. Travellers should visit government websites for updated information and more details. Passengers-except nationals of the country, immediate family members of nationals, permanent residents, and their immediate family members, airline crew and diplomats-are not allowed to transit or enter Australia. On March 16 it was announced that Canada was closing its borders and denying entry to anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Those who can enter are immediate family members of Canadian citizens, air crew members, diplomats and US citizens.

On March 26, China announced that it was temporarily banning the entry of most foreign nationals, excluding diplomatic workers, in an effort to curb the number of imported cases of the coronavirus. India banned all international flights, except cargo, until April 14. Government officials of Italy have placed the country of 60 million people on lockdown on March 10 in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. The government of the United Kingdom, on March 17, advised citizens “against all non-essential travel worldwide,” initially for a period of 30 days.

Pakistan has suspended all international flights. All the borders will remain closed for another two weeks. The number of people infected with the coronavirus has surpassed 2,696 (at the time of writing); the number of victims is increasing despite the lockdown. Many nationals of other countries are forced to stay in Pakistan and vice versa. Some governments are working to repatriate those facing difficulties. For others though it is uncertain when they’ll see their home again, perhaps once this difficult time is over.

One of the stranded is Atta-ur-Rehman, nicknamed Tony. He spoke to Daily Times: “I came to Pakistan, my homeland, on a visit with my wife. We live and work in Canada. We own a business. Due to Covid-19, we are stuck here. There is news every day that flights will resume. We have been in contact with the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad. No measures have been taken [to help us]; a special flight is asking for an additional 4,000 Canadian dollar to get us a new ticket. It’s not a matter of money, but on a humanitarian basis, government should not ask for extra sums of money for tickets. We need the support from both the countries, Pakistan and Canada.

The reason we feel safer over there is because we’ll be under observation and we have less chance of being infected. We’ve our loved ones there who care for us. We’ve our home, our hope. I hope the government of Canada will take the necessary steps to rescue us so we can go to Canada soon to be with our loved ones.”

This pandemic has exposed various fault lines. Pre-emptive decisions with comprehensive remedial steps are necessary. At this crucial stage, we must remember that even a small error in navigation can have huge consequences. We must cooperate with the government and abide by state initiatives to combat and overcome the global virus.

The writer is a human rights activist, a blogger