Delta variant and compulsory vaccination
Just a week after the announcement of Joe Biden's new strategy to push millions to vaccinate (only 54.6% of Americans are fully vaccinated), the Republican state of Arizona is taking legal action. This vaccination obligation now affects the majority of the population residing in the United States: civil servants, private sector employees, health professionals ... 100 million workers would be affected by the measure. Expats are, of course, also affected. Arizona considers it a discriminatory rule, which would exempt people who entered the territory illegally from any vaccination requirement. Joe Biden has, however, to lift the state of urgency despite the virulent Delta variant. The United States has lost to date more than 660,000 of its residents to Covid-19, out of 331.4 million inhabitants identified in April 2020.
President Biden's steadfastness can be seen elsewhere in the world. France has opted for compulsory vaccination for certain professions, starting with health professions. Since September 15, all unvaccinated personnel have been suspended. Some 3,000 practitioners are concerned, according to the Ministry of Health. Zimbabwe is also tightening the vaccine obligation. In addition to officials and teachers, church officials and church goers will now have to be vaccinated to attend religious services. This measure also affects any resident wishing to take exams, go to a restaurant, practice an indoor sports activity, or go to the market: all spheres of everyday life are impacted. An essential measure for the authorities, to counter an epidemic responsible, to date, for 4,551 deaths. Zimbabwe experienced a peak in contamination last July (more than 2,000 cases a day, around 260 today), but only has 13.2% of its population fully vaccinated - mainly by vaccines produced in China, in Russia and India, either, approved by the WHO, but not by the majority of Western states.
After AstraZeneca, controversy surrounds Moderna
Yoshihige Suga will not stand for the next PLD (Liberal Democratic Party) elections scheduled for September 29th. The Prime Minister, elected just a year ago, is throwing in the towel. Indeed, its management of the Covid-19 crisis was deemed unsatisfactory. Very unpopular, Yoshihige Suga suffers another setback with the recent scandal of non-compliant doses. On August 16, Japanese laboratories noticed the presence of foreign bodies in batches of Moderna vaccines imported from Spain. Ten days later, other nonconformities were discovered; Japan is suspending the administration of nearly 1.63 million doses. But the vaccinations had already started; two men died after receiving a second dose of Moderna from this batch. On August 30, 1 million additional doses were suspended. Nothing links the deaths of the two men to the infected doses. This setback nevertheless cramps a little more a Japanese population already shaken by the Olympics, and another wave of the epidemic. Barely 46% of Japanese are vaccinated. Some are campaigning to keep the borders closed. Only holders of a valid visa can go to Japan right now. The state has suspended all visa issuance since the start of the crisis.
Thailand tests reopening of borders
Since July, Thailand is gradually reopening. Currently being tested, three enclaves, including one particularly popular with tourists: Phuket, (with Krabi and Samui). How does it work? Tourists vaccinated and tested negative on arrival must stay in Phuket for 7 to 14 days while waiting for their PCR test. If the test is negative, they can spend an additional 7 days in Krabi, upon presentation of a "transfer form" issued by their hotel in Phuket, stating the results of the two negative PCR tests carried out on site. To travel to another Thai destination, travelers will be required to provide a third negative test, along with a “discharge form” from their hotel, authorizing them to travel elsewhere in the territory. If the stay in Krabi is less than 7 days, tourists have the obligation to return to Phuket. Thailand is opened to international tourists but with strict supervision: compulsory vaccination and regular negative PCR tests. At the same time, the state, which will implement the e-visa from September 18, is extending its restrictive measures until September 30, with areas still closed to foreign travelers.
Borders: what changes in September
This is the information that every future candidate for travel or expatriation scrutinizes: which countries are reopening their borders?
Malaysia is reopening part of its borders only to people who have been vaccinated: the latter will be able to travel to Langkawi Island.
Chile reopens its borders in October. October also for the partial reopening of Viet Nam: only the island of Phu Quoc is concerned; the country intends to boost tourism and revive an economy shaken by the health crisis. Indonesia plans to reopen in November, if at least 70% of its population receives a dose of the vaccine.
In all cases, only visitors who are fully vaccinated are affected by these measures. Asian countries are carefully scrutinizing the Thai model. If proven successful, it could spread far beyond Asia. Viet Nam is already following the Thai model. Argentina also seems to be considering reopening its borders, with strict supervision of tourists.
