Economy

Government

Healthcare

Households

Movement of people

International travel has ground to a halt as governments close their borders. Within countries, people are being asked or ordered to stay at home and maintain physical distance from one another. These measures seek to slow the spread of the virus. See how governments’ responses compare on the key issues of border measures, citizens abroad, domestic travel, and physical distancing.

Border measures

How governments are controlling their borders

Physical distancing

How governments are keeping people apart to slow the spread of COVID-19

Argentina

Authorised digital prescriptions during the mandatory self-isolation period

01 April 2020
Required people to stay at home, except those providing essential services

20 March 2020
Required all non-essential services to close

20 March 2020
Suspended the charging of toll fees

20 March 2020
Established a hotline for reporting quarantine violations

17 March 2020

Australia

Prohobited aged care facilities from implementing restrictions beyond those imposed by government

24 April 2020
Allowed churches and other places of worship to live stream services

03 April 2020
Advised that risk assessments are necessary if vulnerable workers do essential work

30 March 2020
Limited most public gatherings to two people and closed outdoor recreation facilities

29 March 2020
Advised that social distancing measures will be in place for at least six months

27 March 2020
Heightened social distancing measures, including additional prohibited activities

25 March 2020
Restricted social gatherings, including closure of ‘non-essential’ facilities

22 March 2020
Introduced restrictions to non-essential events

20 March 2020

Austria

Exempted domestic purchase of protective masks from sales tax

24 April 2020
Lifted quarantine of Heiligenblut village

14 April 2020
Introduced quarantine for municipalities of Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Dorfgastein, Großarl und Hüttschlag region

14 April 2020
Required protective face masks to be worn in public transport

14 April 2020
Extended quarantine of Paznauntal

14 April 2020
Required people to stay at home except for non-essential activities

14 April 2020
Reduced sales taxes on breathing masks

14 April 2020
Required masks to be worn in grocery stories

11 April 2020
Allowed public stores with less than 400sqm to re-open under hygiene measures

11 April 2020
Allowed all stores and services to reopen under hygiene measures

11 April 2020
Relaxed cross-border quarantine requirments for certain workers

11 April 2020
Required grocery stores are implement hygiene measures

03 April 2020
Closed all hotels

03 April 2020
Closed all non-essential public services involving close contact

25 March 2020
Closed all ski lifts and hotels in Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia and Upper Austria

20 March 2020
Imposed partial lockdown

15 March 2020
Banned public gatherings over five people and closed restaurants

15 March 2020
Banned outdoor gatherings of over 500 people and indoor gatherings of over 100 people

15 March 2020

Brazil

Closed all non-essential public services

08 April 2020
Implemented voluntary seven day quarantine

21 March 2020
Required international travellers and people with symptoms to isolate

13 March 2020

China

Released guidelines for the orderly opening of tourist attractions

13 April 2020
Introduced health QR code to advise people whether they need to self-quarantine

11 February 2020
Required colleges and universities to move all teaching online

04 February 2020
Required people to stay home unless doing essential activities

29 January 2020
Extended Spring Festival vacation

26 January 2020

Denmark

Banned gatherings of more than 10 people

17 March 2020
Closed all non-essential public sector services, including schools and daycare

13 March 2020

France

Prohibited certain funeral practices

23 March 2020
Banned gatherings of more than 100 people

23 March 2020
Closed many establishments to the public

23 March 2020
Implemented protections for cab drivers

23 March 2020
Required truck drivers to take certain measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19

23 March 2020
Closed schools and universities

23 March 2020
Required all people to stay at home except for essential purposes

23 March 2020
Asked people to stay home

18 March 2020
Permitted local authorities to close schools and asked children of sick people not to attend

04 March 2020
Prevented employees from exercising their “right to withdraw” provided employers follow health guidelines

04 March 2020
Banned gatherings, closed schools, and discouraged going out in “cluster” areas

29 February 2020
Banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people in closed spaces

29 February 2020

Germany

Extended limitations to free movement and business operations

15 April 2020
Recommended wearing of non-medical masks in relevant public spaces

15 April 2020
Selectively reopened schools and prepared for complete reopening of education institutions

15 April 2020
Extended prohibition of mass events

15 April 2020
Allowed selected stores to reopen

15 April 2020
Announced the reopening of hairdressers

15 April 2020
Required all companies to implement hygiene plan

15 April 2020
Limited free movement outside of people’s homes

22 March 2020
Closed all non-essential businesses and establishments

16 March 2020

India

Extended lockdown

14 April 2020
Announced lockdown for 21 days

24 March 2020
Announced one-day curfew

19 March 2020
Closed recreational establishments

16 March 2020
Encouraged people to work from home and avoid non-essential travel

16 March 2020
Discouraged all non-essential travel and large gatherings

12 March 2020

Iran

Banned congregations until mid-Ramadan

19 April 2020
Imposed partial lockdown of some factories and transportation industry

25 March 2020
Released around 85,000 prisoners temporarily

17 March 2020

Ireland

Extended public health restrictions

10 April 2020
Postponed certain school examinations

10 April 2020
Suspended requirement to register births and deaths in person

07 April 2020
Suspended driving licences and driving tests

07 April 2020
Relaxed rules on medical prescriptions

03 April 2020
Suspended all visits to hospitals and residential healthcare centres

01 April 2020
Limited court business to urgent matters

29 March 2020
Advised vulnerable people to self-isolate

28 March 2020
Required people to stay at home except for essential purposes

27 March 2020
Closed all non-essential businesses

27 March 2020
Suspended prison visits

27 March 2020
Gave public health officials powers to detain and isolate people

20 March 2020
Cancelled certain schools examinations

19 March 2020
Increased limit for contactless payments

18 March 2020
Advised pubs to close and people to not hold private parties

15 March 2020
Closed schools, universities and preschools

12 March 2020

Morocco

Imposed partial lock-down requiring people to stay at home with limited exceptions

20 March 2020
Banned public gatherings of more than 50 people

16 March 2020
Closed eateries and entertainment venues

16 March 2020
Urged public transport operators to comply with hygiene recommendations

16 March 2020
Required those with COVID-19 to wear medical masks in public

16 March 2020
Cancelled all religious moussems (fairs) regardless of size

12 March 2020
Postponed official launch of celebration of Rabat tourism campaign

09 March 2020
Postponed sports and cultural events and cancelled mass gatherings

28 February 2020
Recommended public hygiene measures, including avoiding close contact with people with COVID-19 symptoms

27 January 2020

Nepal

Imposed nationwide lockdown

24 March 2020
Closed schools and recreational centers

16 March 2020
Suspended mountaineering permits

14 March 2020
Discouraged large gatherings

01 March 2020
Suspended tourism promotion

29 February 2020

Netherlands

Announced the easing of physical distancing measures from 11 May

06 May 2020
Established new visiting scheme for nursing homes

06 May 2020
Eased social distancing measures in the Caribbean Netherlands

01 May 2020
Extended physical distancing measures

21 April 2020
Permitted local governments to use digital decision-making

07 April 2020
Extended physical distancing measures

04 April 2020
Introduced physical distancing guidelines for the construction sector

27 March 2020
Established public health guidance for homeless shelters

27 March 2020
Extended physical distancing measures in the Caribbean Netherlands

27 March 2020
Provided public health guidance for retailers

25 March 2020
Restricted visits to youth, disability and psychiatric care facilities

23 March 2020
Asked people to stay at home as much as possible

23 March 2020
Provided funding for remote access to education

20 March 2020
Clarified quarantine measures for people returning to Bonaire

20 March 2020
Began publish health measures at government service centres in the Caribbean Netherlands

18 March 2020
Enforced physical distancing measures in the Caribbean Netherlands

18 March 2020
Closed all schools and education providers

17 March 2020
Closed certain businesses

15 March 2020
Restricted visits to prisons

13 March 2020
Directed physical distancing and working from home

12 March 2020
Cancelled gatherings of more than 100 people

12 March 2020

New Zealand

Announced relaxtion of public health measures

11 May 2020
Changed law to allow ongoing enforcement of public health measures

07 May 2020
Extended requirement to stay at home until 27 April

20 April 2020
Revised four-level COVID-19 alert system

16 April 2020
Funded the temporary expansion of footpaths and bicycle lanes

12 April 2020
Required all people to stay at home, except those providing essential services

23 March 2020
Required all non-essential services to close

23 March 2020
Advised ‘at risk’ people to stay at home

22 March 2020
Restricted visits to aged care facilities

21 March 2020
Established four-level COVID19 alert system

21 March 2020

Pakistan

Extended ban on public gatherings and school closures

14 April 2020
Instructed non-essential government employees to work from home

20 March 2020
Banned public gatherings and closed educational institutions

13 March 2020

Peru

Restricted supermarket and pharmacy opening to 7am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday

19 April 2020
Changed stay-at-home order to remove gender-specific restrictions

10 April 2020
Imposed full day curfew for two days

09 April 2020
Extended quarantine until 26 April

08 April 2020
Imposed stay-at-home order based on gender

03 April 2020
Imposed a national curfew between 6pm and 4am

31 March 2020
Recommended the use of facemasks when going outside

31 March 2020
Extended quarantine until 12 April

26 March 2020
Imposed a curfew from from 6pm to 5am for most of country

26 March 2020
Imposed a national curfew between 8pm and 5am

18 March 2020
Imposed a quarantine for two weeks and limited travel and purchase of essential goods

16 March 2020
Required people who transited France, Italy, Spain and China to self quarantine

11 March 2020

Russia

Extended restrictions on public events

13 April 2020
Established fines for breaching isolation rules

02 April 2020
Required people in Moscow to stay at home

30 March 2020
Treated patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms at home

30 March 2020
Imposed regional stay-at-home requirements

30 March 2020
Began a partial lockdown in certain areas

28 March 2020
Declared a paid holiday from 28 March to 5 April

28 March 2020
Required arrivals from certain countries to isolate for 14 days

16 March 2020
Limited public indoor events to no more than 50 people

16 March 2020
Established penalties for spreading false information or breaching quarantine

04 January 2020

Saudi Arabia

Partially lifted 24 hour curfew

26 April 2020
Allowed some commercial and economic activities to reopen

26 April 2020
Changed partial curfew times

08 April 2020
Imposed 24 hour curfew in certain cities

06 April 2020
Raised E-wallet top up monthly ceiling limit

25 March 2020
Imposed partial curfew

23 March 2020
Increased the limit for contactless card transactions

18 March 2020
Directed most government employees to work from home

16 March 2020
Closed malls and shops

16 March 2020
Suspended events and large gatherings

12 March 2020
Required all arrivals from COVID19 pandemic areas to self isolate

08 March 2020

Singapore

Closed non-essential workplace premises

03 April 2020
Required schools to shift to home-based learning

03 April 2020
Closed recreation venues, attractions and places of worship

03 April 2020
Established community isolation facility for some COVID-19 patients

24 March 2020
Banned gatherings of more than 10 people other than at work or school

24 March 2020

South Africa

Issued safe workplace guidlines for mining industry

23 April 2020
Established five-level COVID19 alert system

23 April 2020
Announced move to alert level 4 from 1 May

23 April 2020
Relaxed some lockdown restrictions relating to certain essential goods

16 April 2020
Relaxed requirements to access Unemployment Insurance Fund

09 April 2020
Isolated COVID-19 patients who cannot self isolate at home in special facilities

09 April 2020
Extended nationwide lockdown to end of April

09 April 2020
Relaxed prohibition on the movement of children in shared custody between guardians

08 April 2020
Prohibited the movement of children in shared custody between guardians

30 March 2020
Increased inspections of employers reported to breach health and safety regulations

28 March 2020
Prohibited the sale of non-essential goods

26 March 2020
Banned all gatherings except funerals

25 March 2020
Required all people to stay at home unless performing essential services

23 March 2020
Limited sale of alcohol

21 March 2020
Suspended community registration outreach programmes and home visits to social security recipients

19 March 2020
Required restaurants, taverns and clubs to close or limit capacity to 50 persons

18 March 2020
Recommended that employers adopt government guidelines on COVID-19

17 March 2020
Banned large gatherings and implemented other social distancing measures

15 March 2020
Suspended correctional facilities visits

15 March 2020
Closed all early childhood education, schools and higher education institutions

15 March 2020

South Korea

Announced suspension of bars and clubs

09 May 2020
Announced reopening of public institutions

06 May 2020
Announced reopening of schools

04 May 2020
Announced revised social distancing guidelines

24 April 2020
Introduced social distancing and self-isolation guidelines for national election

11 April 2020
Encouraged social distancing

01 April 2020
Introduced penalties for breaking quarantine rules

31 March 2020
Announced enhanced measures on private tutoring academies

24 March 2020
Announced workplace virus prevention guidelines

12 March 2020
Advised cram schools to suspend private tutoring academy classes

06 March 2020
Postponed civil service entrance examinations

03 March 2020
Banned public rallies in Seoul plazas

21 February 2020
Closed most educational facilities and announced online classes

15 February 2020
Reduced subway services

Spain

Announced time slots for exercise

02 May 2020
Announced four-stage desescalation plan

29 April 2020
Allowed individuals to exercise outside and go for walks with those they live with

26 April 2020
Extended teleworking for two months

21 April 2020
Allowed children to leave their homes on accompanied walks

21 April 2020
Allowed some non essential workers to return to work

13 April 2020
State of alarm extended

11 April 2020
Required non-essential workers to take recoverable paid leave

29 March 2020
Tightened national lockdown

29 March 2020
Required all people to stay at home, except those providing essential services

28 March 2020
Restricted movement of people

14 March 2020
Declared a state of alarm

14 March 2020
Asked health professionals not to attend conferences, courses or seminars

03 March 2020

Sweden

Banned visits to aged care facilities

31 March 2020
Banned public gatherings and events with more than 50 participants

27 March 2020
Changed laws around annual general meetings to facilitate remote participation

26 March 2020
Recommended against crowding in restaurants and pubs

24 March 2020
Recommended secondary and tertiary education institutions teach remotely

17 March 2020
Banned public gatherings and events with more than 500 participants

13 March 2020

Taiwan

Relaxed restrictions on long-term care center visitors

01 May 2020
Permitted quarantined or isolated people to visit relatives or attend funerals

25 April 2020
Implemented crowd control at high-traffic public areas

10 April 2020
Banned most hospital visits

02 April 2020
Imposed penalties for quarantine violators

01 April 2020
Canceled non-reserved seats on high-speed rail trains during Labor Day weekend

30 March 2020
Advised against large gatherings

25 March 2020
Offered compensation to quarantined individuals

11 March 2020
Established online ordering system for face masks

10 March 2020
Canceled non-reserved seats on high-speed rail trains during week of major holiday

04 March 2020
Used smart technologies to track people under home quarantine

24 February 2020
Rationed the purchase of face masks

04 February 2020
Required COVID-19 contacts to follow preventative health measures

26 January 2020
Advised people with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home

24 January 2020

Thailand

Extended state of emergency

27 April 2020
Extended curfew

27 April 2020
Imposed nationwide curfew

03 April 2020
Declared state of emergency and required people to stay at home

26 March 2020
Closed all major public venues

17 March 2020
Suspended large cultural gatherings

09 March 2020
Mandate wearing of masks

02 March 2020
Distributed free face mask

01 March 2020

Turkey

Imposed curfew for under 20 years olds

04 April 2020
Introduced curfew for citizens aged over 65 or with chronic diseases

21 March 2020
Introduced mandatory quarantine for incoming passengers

16 March 2020
Closed restaurants, bars, and nightclubs indefinitely

16 March 2020

United Kingdom

Extended lockdown measures

16 April 2020
Closed most businesses and venues

23 March 2020
Directed people to stay at home

23 March 2020
Advised vulnerable people to stay at home

22 March 2020
Closed bars, restaurants, cafes and other entertainment venues

21 March 2020
Closed schools

18 March 2020
Revised authorities’ powers to direct people to undergo testing and isolate

17 March 2020
Advised people with COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate for seven days

12 March 2020
Gave authorities power to direct people to undergo testing and isolate

10 February 2020

United States

Established 30-day social distancing policy

30 March 2020

Vietnam

Lifted social distancing restrictions on domestic transport

07 May 2020
Ended mask and social distancing requirement for students in classrooms

07 May 2020
Resumed schools

04 May 2020
Introduced social distancing guidelines for air travel

30 April 2020
Set criteria for COVID-19 prevention at schools

29 April 2020
Urged the public to follow preventive measures as social distancing measures are reduced

28 April 2020
Reopened schools in more than 30 localities

27 April 2020
Released guidelines for restarting economy while managing COVID-19

24 April 2020
Introduced varying movement restrictions for different cities depending on COVID-19 risk category

24 April 2020
Prolonged suspension of festivals, religious and sports events

22 April 2020
Required all people to stay at home unless doing essential work or activity

01 April 2020
Suspended public transport

01 April 2020
Banned gatherings of more than 10 people

28 March 2020
Required all non-essential shops to close

28 March 2020
Reduced fund transfer fees to promote cashless payment

16 March 2020
Required face masks to be worn on flights and in crowded places

16 March 2020
Began enforcement measures for quarantine and isolation requirements

14 February 2020
Closed all schools

02 February 2020
Restricted festivals and other mass gatherings

30 January 2020

Citizens abroad

How governments are assisting their citizens abroad

Argentina

Assisted citizens abroad with accomodation, meals and medical assistance

28 March 2020

Australia

Announced an international ‘do not travel’ ban

24 March 2020

Canada

Advised travellers to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada

14 March 2020

China

Advised people not to travel overseas

03 March 2020

India

Began evacuating citizens from foreign countries

01 February 2020

Iran

Assisted Iranian citizens in China

28 January 2020
Advised against travel to China

28 January 2020

Ireland

Advised people not to travel overseas

16 March 2020

Morocco

Facilitated the return of foreign tourists to their countries

21 March 2020

Nepal

Advised people not to travel overseas

02 March 2020
Halted labour migration to South Korea

27 February 2020
Chartered flight to evacuate Nepalese in China

02 February 2020

Netherlands

Allowed Bonaire residents to return from other islands in the Caribbean

08 May 2020
Repatriated more Dutch Caribbean residents

06 May 2020
Established register for Dutch Caribbean residents stranded overseas

20 March 2020
Repatriated Dutch Caribbean residents in Columbia for medical treatment

20 March 2020
Clarified quarantine measures for people returning to Bonaire

20 March 2020

New Zealand

Chartered flights for New Zealanders in India

23 April 2020
Collected New Zealanders stranded in Fiji

17 April 2020
Extended pension and benefit payments to New Zealanders stuck overseas

17 April 2020
Chartered flight for New Zealanders in Phillipines

16 April 2020
Sought to negotiate reciprocal transit arrangements with other countries

07 April 2020
Chartered flight for New Zealanders in Peru

06 April 2020
Advised overseas citizens and permanent residents to shelter in place

24 March 2020
Agreed reciprocal transit arrangements with Australia

20 March 2020
Chartered flight to return New Zealanders and Australians from Wuhan

30 January 2020

Pakistan

Chartered flights for citizens stranded abroad

11 April 2020

Saudi Arabia

Facilitated the return of residents to their home countries

30 April 2020
Launched e-service to assist Saudi citizens wishing to return

05 April 2020

South Africa

Introduced a travel ban for certain foreign nationals and advised South Africans against travel to high risk regions

15 March 2020
Prohibited non-essential government-related travel outside of South Africa

15 March 2020
Repatriated South Africans from Wuhan City, China

27 February 2020

South Korea

Extended foreigner visas

09 April 2020
Issued travel alert for all of China

28 January 2020

Sweden

Further increased funding to consular services to assist Swedes abroad

02 April 2020
Increased funding to consular services to assist Swedes abroad

25 March 2020

Taiwan

Advised against non-essential travel

25 January 2020
Advised those traveling to China to avoid traditional markets and healthcare facilities

24 January 2020

United Kingdom

Chartered flight for British citizens in Guyana

29 April 2020
Chartered flight to Australia for British citizens stranded Fiji

23 April 2020
Chartered additional flight for British citizens in the Philippines

21 April 2020
Chartered flights for vulnerable British citizens in New Zealand

19 April 2020
Chartered additional flights for British citizens in India

17 April 2020
Chartered flights for British citizens in Pakistan

17 April 2020

United States

Funded U.S. embassies to support consular needs

06 March 2020

Vietnam

Repatriated citizens from 11 countries

23 April 2020

Domestic travel

How governments are controlling travel within their territories

Argentina

Banned domestic travel for non-essential purposes

17 March 2020

Australia

Restricted movement into certain remote areas

26 March 2020

Brazil

Extended period of reduced public transport services

08 April 2020
Required health screening of domestic travellers from certain locations

08 April 2020

Canada

Required air passengers to cover their face in some circumstances

17 April 2020

China

Released guidelines for the orderly opening of tourist attractions

13 April 2020
Resumed flights service in Hubei province

27 March 2020
Prohibited domestic travel in and out of Wuhan

23 January 2020

Germany

Extended restrictions on international and national travel

15 April 2020

India

Closed all train, metro rail and interstate passenger services

22 March 2020

Iran

Established check points to limit travel between major cities

27 February 2020

Ireland

Restricted public transport to essential purposes

28 March 2020

Morocco

Prohibited all inter-city travel via public transport

21 March 2020

New Zealand

Banned domestic travel for non-essential purposes

23 March 2020

Pakistan

Suspended all domestic flights

25 March 2020
Suspended all passenger trains

25 March 2020

Peru

Banned private vehicles

19 March 2020
Reduced city public transport by 50 per cent and suspended inter-provincial transport

16 March 2020

Russia

Screened travellers at checkpoiints

21 April 2020

Saudi Arabia

Imposed partial curfew

23 March 2020
Suspended all domestic travel

20 March 2020
Suspend Umrah for citizens and residents

04 March 2020

South Africa

Suspended rail and domestic flights

25 March 2020
Introduced random testing on public transport

16 March 2020
Limited travel for staff and students of public higher education institutions

16 March 2020
Advised South Africans against non-essential domestic travel

15 March 2020

Sweden

Financed domestic flights on critical domestic routes

06 April 2020

Taiwan

Implemented crowd control at high-traffic public areas

10 April 2020
Canceled non-reserved seats on high-speed rail trains during Labor Day weekend

30 March 2020
Required temperature checks for all rail passengers

26 March 2020
Canceled non-reserved seats on high-speed rail trains during week of major holiday

04 March 2020
Refused entry into metro stations for people with high temperatures

29 February 2020

Turkey

Suspended intercity bus services

04 April 2020
Suspended all domestic flights for one week

03 April 2020
Introduced permit requirement for domestic travel

29 March 2020

United Kingdom

Advised against nonessential travel

22 March 2020

United States

Issued domestic travel warning for residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

29 March 2020

Vietnam

Resumed normal transport services

08 May 2020
Lifted social distancing restrictions on domestic transport

07 May 2020
Proposed increasing domestic flight frequency

05 May 2020
Introduced social distancing guidelines for air travel

30 April 2020
Restarted road transport services but with strict preventive conditions

24 April 2020
Allowed some domestic flights to resume

22 April 2020
Reopened some train routes

22 April 2020
Suspended public transport

01 April 2020
Restricted domestic flights

28 March 2020

Help us improve our coverage

COVID-19 Policy Watch is a non-profit project run by volunteers. Your support will allow us to add new countries and build new functionality.

Donate

COVID-19 Policy home page image

Something missing? Help us fix it

COVID-19 Policy Watch is a collaborative project, created by volunteer researchers, journalists and policy experts from around the world. If you can help us add a country or keep policies updated, join our team. If you spot an error, let us know and we’ll do our best to fix it.

Join our team Send an update or correction

COVID-19 Policy Watch is created by Policy, a public interest media organisation that creates digital tools to support democracy. This project is published in partnership with a network of national media organisations, including The Spinoff (New Zealand) and Knack (Belgium). If you are interested in becoming a publishing partner, get in touch.

Interested in a particular topic?

Interested in a particular topic?

Movement of people

Border measures

Physical distancing

Citizens abroad

Domestic travel

Help us improve our coverage

Something missing? Help us fix it