New reports have highlighted the significant toll that COVID-19 travel and border restrictions have taken on human lives. Tens of thousands of international travellers were stranded overseas for over 18 months, separated from their loved ones, with little support from their national governments. Most studies that looked at the impacts of travel bans were focused on reducing disease importation. Researchers from the University of New South Wales analysed COVID-19-related information and support options provided by 11 governments to their citizens stranded overseas in June 2021, finding that while most countries provided some level of assistance for repatriation, border control, and re-entry measures, no country provided all these avenues of support. Additionally, the levels of distress amongst stranded travellers were significantly higher compared to that of migrant workers, healthcare workers, and the general population during the pandemic, highlighting the need for additional support for future public health crises.
Human toll of COVID border restrictions revealed in study.
