Fifteen days in December

Capture and analysis of Omicron-related travel restrictions

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21881349
AutoresJordan Schermerhorn (0000-0002-5765-1838, Georgetown University), Alaina Case (Talus Analytics, Boulder, Colorado, USA), Ellie Graeden (0000-0002-1265-9756, Georgetown University), Justin Kerr (0009-0001-1891-325X, Talus Analytics, Washington, District of Columbia, USA), Mackenzie Moore (0000-0001-6242-2928, Georgetown University), Siobhan Robinson-Marshall (Georgetown University), Trae Wallace (Talus Analytics, Boulder, Colorado, USA), Emily Woodrow (Georgetown University), Rebecca Katz (0000-0002-2831-0866, Georgetown University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2022
Volumen7
Número3
Páginase008642
Fecha de publicación2022-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
EditorialBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008642
PMID35296466
OpenAlexW4220832092
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas3

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

Business · Conditionality · Disease · Economics · Environmental health · Political science · Public economics · Quarantine · Troubleshooting · Computer Science · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research