India

Currently, India has been averaging around 9,000 new cases daily. As of date, the country’s total tally of COVID-19 cases is 3,45,26,480. Nearly 80 per cent of the eligible population in India has been vaccinated against Covid-19 with the first dose, and 38 per cent has been fully vaccinated.

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/covid-19-live-updates-us-issues-travel-advisories-for-germany-denmark-over-covid/liveblog/87858853.cms

Education

Many states like Delhi, Gujrat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana have opened schools for all grades and colleges with limited capacity and covid protocols from 1 September,2021.

https://www.shiksha.com/articles/school-reopening-updates-when-will-schools-reopen-in-india-2021-check-state-wise-list-here-blogId-61545

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/school-reopening/news

https://www.oneindia.com/india/school-reopening-news-list-of-states-that-announced-school-reopen-dates-in-november-2021-3330419.html

Travel

India has currently air-bubble pacts with around 28 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Indian government has increased weekly flight cap for UK carriers from 15 to 34. Post this announcement, British airways has increased their weekly flight from 10 to 20. The flights are scheduled from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad to London Heathrow since 16 August. Virgin Atlantic has restarted its daily New Delhi and Mumbai flights.India has issued a list of countries (based on high number of active covid cases) from which travellers entering India will have to follow covid protocols.  Currently, UK features in high-risk category which means special measures are to be followed upon arrival in India including post arrival testing. Ministry of Civil Cviation has issued new travel guidelines with effect from October 2021.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/uk-eases-travel-advisory-restrictions-for-more-countries/articleshow/86872907.cms

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/ListofCountriestobereferredtoincontextofGuidelinesforinternationalarrivalsdated20thOctober2021.pdf

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalArrival11thNovember2021.pdf

https://www.newdelhiairport.in/pdf/UK-PA-Sep-30-2021.pdf

Pakistan

There are currently 22,,479 active covid cases in Pakistan. Over 35% of the population has received first dose and 22% of the population has now been fully vaccinated. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 120,­448,598 doses of vaccine have been administered since the vaccination drive began in the country in February this year.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1659342/120m-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine-administered-so-far

Education

As the coronavirus positivity rate has declined to 2.8 per cent across the country, the Nat­ional Command and Opera­tions Centre (NCOC) decided to open the doors of educational ins­ti­tutions for normal classes for all grades from Oct 11.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1650753

https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-schools-to-resume-normal-classes-from-october-11-1.82797224

Travel

As per the UK FCDO travel advisory, travellers aged 6 and over are required to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours before the start of travel. There is a list of countries exempt from this which is updated every two weeks and can be accessed via the link  https://covid.gov.pk/intl_travellers/current_policies

From 1 October, passengers who are aged 18 and above will require a full course of a Covid-19 vaccine to undertake domestic air travel within Pakistan. Pakistan will accept the UK’s proof of vaccination certificate which is NHS COVID Pass for UK travellers.

The guidance to get NHS Covid Pass can be accessed at

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan/coronavirus

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has 7,860 active covid cases.  11.5% population has taken 1^st dose of vaccination and 5.2% are fully vaccinated.

Bangladesh has administered at least 86,995,218 doses of COVID vaccines so far.

https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/bangladesh/

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/bangladesh/

Education

The Bangladeshi government announced reopening of schools for all grades and colleges in the country from 12 September after a closure of around 18 months as COVID-19 cases began to fall. The universities have also opened from October 2021.  

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1234272.shtml#:~:text=The%20Bangladeshi%20government%20announced%20the,15.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/13/bangladesh-reopens-schools-after-18-month-covid-shutdown

Travel

International commercial passenger flights are operating with restrictions. Biman Bangladesh Airlines is regularly operating from Dhaka to London from June 2020 with 4 flights per week. Other airlines like Etihad, Jazeera Airways, Qatar Airways are also operating.

Nepal

Nepal currently has 7,311 active cases reporting 289 new infections on average each day. Nepal has administered at least 16,536,009 doses of COVID vaccines so far which accounts for 28.9% of the country’s population.

https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/nepal/

https://kathmandupost.com/covid19

Education

Schools had started to reopen in the Kathmandu Valley in late 2020 but they were closed again after the second wave of Covid struck in April 2021.  Some schools are beginning to reopen since mid-September.

https://www.indiatvnews.com/education/news-some-schools-reopen-in-kathmandu-valley-amid-pandemic-734724

https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2021/09/18/amid-conflicting-assessments-of-covid-19-situation-a-few-schools-reopen-in-capital

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka currently has 16,093 active cases. 72.6% of the population has been vaccinated with at least the 1^st dose and 62.5% are fully vaccinated so far.  A total of 13,972,902 population have received both the doses.

http://www.health.gov.lk/moh_final/english/public/elfinder/files/library/Statistics.html

Education

Primary schools across Sri Lanka have reopened from 21 October 2021 after a gap of over six months.  Authorities were forced to shut down schools in on April 27 with the emergence of the Delta-variant led third wave of the epidemic. Schools have remained shut since. The schools for all grades are to be open by November 2021.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/schools-reopen-across-sri-lanka-even-as-teachers-strike-continues/article37109624.ece

https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-soon-reopen-schools-with-200-students-or-fewer-for-grades-1-to-5-86448/#modal-one

https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/oct/21/primary-schools-reopen-in-sri-lanka-even-as-teachers-strike-demanding-an-increment-in-salary-24995.html

Travel

Commercial airlines are operating flights to and from Sri Lanka. Some airlines require evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours before the start of travel. Due to a prevalence of COVID-19 cases in the community, there is a high risk of changes to flights and airport operations at short notice. If you wish to travel, you should consult your travel operator.

Sri Lanka will only accept the UK’s letter version of proof of Covid-19 recovery and vaccination record which is NHS COVID pass for UK travellers. They will not accept digital proof. The NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate vaccine status.

Details about NHS Covid Pass: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass