Additional health measures in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak, 2 August 2023

On 30 January 2020, the Director-General determined that the outbreak of 2019-nCoV, constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and issued Temporary Recommendations[1]. On 11 March 2020 the Director-General characterized the COVID-19 situation as a pandemic[2].

Following the 15th IHR Emergency Committee for COVID-19 on 5 May 2023, the WHO Director-General concurred with the advice offered by the Committeeregarding the COVID-19 pandemic and determined that COVID-19 is an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

States Parties are advised to continue following the issued Temporary Recommendations in relation to International Traffic:

Continue to lift COVID-19 international travel related health measures, based on risk assessments, and to not require any proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a prerequisite for international travel.

Interim position paper: considerations regarding proof of COVID-19 vaccination for international travellers ;

Policy considerations for implementing a risk-based approach to international travel in the context of COVID-19

As a general trend, countries are lifting all international travel related measures.

As of 2 August 2023, 7 countries require testing for all passengers prior or on arrival and 28 (-7) countries require testing for non-vaccinated travelers.

With regards to vaccination, 148 (+8) countries do not require vaccination for entry and 34 countries accept vaccination as part of COVID certificate (travelercan present either vaccination or testing for entry). To date, 8 (-1) States Parties still require vaccination as a condition for entry, which is not consistent with IHR provisions or current Temporary Recommendations: Equatorial Guinea, Kiribati, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.

For detailed information on each measure, please connect to the regional dashboards: AFRO , EMRO , EURO , SEARO , WPRO

*figures in brackets represent increase or decrease on the number or countries since the last update on 5 June 2023.

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[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committeeregarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)

[2] https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020