A man receives a vaccine in Belgrade, Serbia. – Reuters

Abu Dhabi – According to the travel corridor agreement, citizens and expats are required to provide evidence confirming that they received the last shot of the Covid-19 vaccine

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Released: Wed May 12, 2021, 10:37 p.m.

The United Arab Emirates and Serbia have signed an MoU on a quarantine-free travel corridor for fully vaccinated people. The move is part of a joint cooperation and coordination agreement between the UAE and Serbia to advance measures to recover from the effects of Covid-19.

The quarantine-free travel corridor will become safe travel for everyone from the 15th.

The virtual signing ceremony was attended by the UAE Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Tatiana Mattek, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Communication from the Serbian side.

The move reflects the determination of the leaders of both countries to facilitate passenger traffic and achieve the desired goals of the vaccination campaigns that have been carried out to ensure the vaccination of all eligible community members.

According to the new rule, citizens and foreign residents who wish to benefit from the quarantine-free travel corridor must provide proof that they have received the last vaccination of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the approved applications or certificates from their health authorities. These applications also allow passengers to present the results of the laboratory test / PCR.

This partnership and strategic collaboration between the two countries is vital given the challenges the world is facing from the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also supports the efforts of the two countries to combat and overcome the pandemic.

01. 11. 2021.

HOW WILL THEY TRAVEL THIS WINTER? The dilemma is solved! It is known whether the vaccine is mandatory for entering the EU!

A spokeswoman for the European Commission explained whether the vaccines against the corona virus will be mandatory for all those who go on New Year’s holidays and winters all over Europe. And here is how movement will be “allowed” in practice.

Photo:pink

“The EU Regulation on digital covid certificates came into force on 1 July this year. The EU digital covid certificate is proof that a person has either been vaccinated against covid 19, or received negative test results or recovered from a disease,” pointed out Jordis Ferroli, the spokesperson of the European Commission in charge of health issues, explaining that from a legal point of view, therefore, everything is clear – the vaccine is not mandatory.

However, things can get complicated in practice, because the European Commission only gives recommendations to member states on how to behave during a pandemic, but states are not obliged to accept that and each acts according to its own internal rules. For example, what applies to Hungary or Greece does not apply to Germany or Belgium. That is why it is necessary to inquire in detail at the embassy of each country before leaving for the trip, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Photo: Unsplash.com

The European Commission has established a green list which includes all those countries in which there are less than 75 infected per one hundred thousand inhabitants. It is recommended that their citizens freely enter the EU member states, and from the others only out of necessity. And New Year’s Eve or skiing are not essential.

In the first case, the countries to which the residents of the countries from the “green list” travel usually ask for tests or confirmation of vaccination just in case, while in the second case the EC recommends that all vaccinated persons be allowed to enter, with vaccines recognized by the European Agency. for drugs, regardless of whether their trip is necessary or not. The vaccine is already a serious advantage here. This is especially evident now that Serbia is not on the “green list” by the EC recommendation. In some countries, the vaccine is, so far, the only pass, especially for those who travel by plane. The favorable circumstance is that the third dose is taken into account, so if it is, say, a “phaser”, and the first two are Chinese, the passage is free.

Photo: Tanjug AP/Nam Y. Huh

Based on the EC recommendation, member states allow entry to those who meet one of the three conditions – a vaccine, a test or a certificate of a past illness, but in practice the situation is somewhat different. Staying on the territory of the EU can be greatly complicated for those who enter without the vaccine, because in many of them sanitary passes are valid.

For example, in France, these passes are necessary for going to a restaurant, cinema, museum, to a game, for traveling by train, plane, boat … Whoever arrives only with a negative test, without a vaccine, means that he would have to take a PCR test. every 72 hours or antigenically every 48 hours to function normally. Recently, for the unvaccinated, the first costs 44 euros, and the second 22. This represents a significant additional cost. And without a test, vaccine or confirmation of a past illness, there is no coffee at the bar on the Champs Elysees or anywhere else in the City of Light, Provence, the Cote d’Azur, the ski resort in the Alps and other places.

Photo: Tanjug AP / Thanassis Stavrakis

For example, whoever comes unvaccinated for two weeks would have to do at least four PCR tests or six antigen tests. In both cases, it amounts to 132 euros. For a month’s stay, you should count on twice the additional expense. Vaccinated during that time are free.

As far as vaccines are concerned, in France, it is possible to obtain a domestic “cu-ar” code via the Internet, for all foreigners who have been vaccinated according to the regulations, so that they can function normally on French territory. And in that way, the arrival of vaccinated persons is encouraged.

More than three million people were immunized

Serbia has crossed three million adult citizens who have received the vaccine. The increase in the number of vaccinated occurred after the introduction of restrictive measures and covid passes.

However, the crown still takes its toll. The number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic has approached the “black spot” of 10,000. It was 9,955 yesterday. In the last 24 hours, 65 people died. 16,048 were tested, and 4,929 tested positive. There are 6,764 covid patients in hospitals, of which 281 are on a respirator.

Source:

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People returning to Northern Ireland from France no longer need to be in quarantine from 4 a.m. on Sunday.

A number of countries have also been put on the green travel list, including Germany, Austria and Norway.

The new rules in Northern Ireland follow a number of changes to the traffic light system for international travel in the rest of the UK.

The countries added to Northern Ireland’s green list for travel from Sunday are Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway.

A number of countries have been added to the NI Green List for international travel (Liam McBurney / PA)

There is no obligation to self-isolate or book an eight day Covid-19 PCR test when traveling to Northern Ireland from a country on the green list.

Countries moved to the amber list are India, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Those returning from an amber list country who have been fully vaccinated under any of the UK, US or EU vaccination programs do not need to self-isolate or test the 8th day after arrival.

Georgia, La Reunion, Mayotte and Mexico will be put on the red list from Sunday.

Anyone traveling to Northern Ireland from a country on the Red List must book a 10-day hotel quarantine that includes post-arrival testing.

The traffic in the direction of Nis takes place in the overtaking lane of the right lane of the highway, as well as in the overtaking lane in the opposite direction Nis-Belgrade, while the traffic in the direction of Belgrade takes place in the stop and driving lane, the Roads of Serbia announced.

From the Bypass around Belgrade, the passage under the underpass under the highway is closed for traffic, so the traffic from the Bypass around Belgrade, in the direction of Belgrade, takes place through the Transped loop.

Poreč bridge-Klokočevac, until November 1, works on the rehabilitation of the road, with alternating passing of vehicles, with traffic lights.

On the highway E-70, loop “Sremska Mitrovica” – loop “Ruma” (left road), near the loop “Ruma”, since yesterday, works in the dividing zone on increased maintenance. The traffic takes place in the traffic lane, direction Belgrade – Sid. The planned deadline for completion of works is June 26.

Composition Reka – Strezimirovce, from today to June 25, from 7 am to 5 pm, works on changing the road, with alternately passing vehicles at traffic lights.

There are no vehicle detentions at toll stations on highways in the Republic of Serbia.

According to the information of the Border Police Administration at 7.30 am, at the border crossings Sid and Kelebija, the delay at the exit is 60 minutes for cargo motor vehicles, 180 minutes for Horgos,

Gradini 120 minutes, Batrovci 300 minutes.

At other border crossings there is no longer delay for all categories of vehicles.

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This week I read a lot about my planned trip from Beijing via Golmud to Lhasa. I am really trying to figure out the enormity of what has been built and there is a serious risk of accidentally slipping into Trainspotter language.

The line not only has the highest railway in the world, but also the highest tunnel and the longest mountain tunnel and is built on special supports in permafrost (with passive heat exchangers, whatever they are). There are 675 bridges and the trains have an enriched oxygen atmosphere on board.

It reaches the latter part of China without a modern railroad and also has the potential to become a bridge to Central Asia, with a planned extension to Nepal (2020) and possibly even India.

This got me thinking about the practical implications of this part of the trip. The climb from Beijing takes three days, and the elevation profile is quite steep for the past 24 hours, peaking at Tanggula Pass (5072m) before descending slightly to Lhasa. The Tanggula Pass is the undisputed highest point of all railways in the world.

I remember taking a train across South America a few years ago and really feeling the height. It’s not like climbing, where you often have acclimatization phases and sleep more deeply than you climb every day.

I’m not a mountaineer, but in 2002 I climbed Kilimanjaro and Kinabalu in the same year. At the summit of Kili (5,895m) I remember how the colors I saw looked saturated, my thinking slowed down and the strange feeling of looking down at myself. An out-of-body experience … or more likely my brain to shut down slowly due to the lack of oxygen.

So I did some research on what I can do to prepare for it. Aside from getting super fit and exercising at high altitudes (little hope), there are some medical options.

As far as I know, only one person has officially died of AMS on the train from Lhasa. Not sure if this is a comforting statistic or not, and wonder how many might need treatment upon arrival. On the positive side, the train is supposed to add additional oxygen to the wagon atmosphere, which should be supported somewhat when crossing Golmud. Apparently this reaches the height roughly equivalent to that of Lhasa in the wagon (3,490 m).

Additional oxygen is available at every seat. So if I felt bad, I could keep breathing and then take the next pull down to a lower altitude. The only catch is that you have to return via the higher Tanggula Pass first. No wonder you have to sign a disclaimer before you can get on the train.

In practical terms, the most important steps are staying adequately hydrated (urination is important), avoiding alcohol, and using ibuprofen to treat headaches. I went a step further and will bring Diamox (acetazolamide) with me twice a day for preventative use.

Hopefully it will help me sleep, breathe normally, and generally acclimate myself. There is a lot of medical debate about this approach, but I have used it on Kili and it seems to be working for me. Apparently there are a number of Tibetan herbs that can be used too, but I don’t think I’ll find them in time.

Some travelers have even used dexamthazone, but I will leave it to a doctor to give me in an emergency as it is a fairly serious steroid, to my knowledge, with fairly serious and sometimes permanent side effects. I think there’s a doctor on every train.

One recommendation from a mountain doctor was to start taking Diamox 48 hours before reaching a serious altitude and to consume mainly carbohydrates, which produce more energy with lower amounts of oxygen. I will plan to live on a diet of water (mixed with rehydration salts) and pasta.

Do you have any advice for Matthew? Tell us in the comments below.

Matthew Woodward has completed several amazing long distance adventures on the Trans-Siberian Railway and further across Asia. From his home in Edinburgh he has reached Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo and is now on his way to Tibet. His blog can be found at Toad’s travel adventure.

Main picture: Train passing Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains Tibet (Shutterstock)

According to the travel corridor agreement, citizens and expats are required to provide evidence confirming that they received the last shot of the Covid-19 vaccine

The United Arab Emirates and Serbia have signed an agreement on a quarantine-free travel corridor for fully vaccinated people. The move is part of a joint cooperation and coordination agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Serbia to advance measures to recover from the effects of Covid-19.

The quarantine-free travel corridor will make it easier for vaccinated people to travel with vaccination certificates issued by health authorities in both countries from May 15, without the need to apply health quarantine requirements upon arrival, with other precautionary measures being taken to ensure this safe travel for everyone.

The signing ceremony, which took place virtually, was attended by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and, on the Serbian side, Tatiana Mattek, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Communication.

The move reflects the determination of the leaders of both countries to facilitate the movement of people and achieve the desired goals of the vaccination campaigns that have been carried out to ensure the vaccination of all eligible community members.

According to the new rule, citizens and foreigners who wish to benefit from the quarantine-free travel corridor must show that they have received the last shot of the Covid-19 vaccine as per approved applications or certificates from their health authorities. Passengers can also use these applications to present the results of the laboratory tests / PCR.

This partnership and strategic collaboration between the two countries is vital given the challenges the world is facing due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also supports the efforts of the two countries to fight and overcome the pandemic.

EPA

Virgin Australia

The day before the announcement of the Federal budget for the next economic year, Federal Treasurer Josh Freidenberg revealed something that few in Australia will like.

International borders will remain closed until the end of this year, and it is estimated that normal foreign passenger traffic will be established during 2022.

So, if you have planned and hoped that you will be able to visit family and friends in the homeland, you will have to forget about that possibility for at least another seven months, if not longer. And much longer.

Namely, Freidenberg also said that the plan to open the borders next year is subject to change and that everything will depend on the recommendations of health officials and the development of the situation with the kovida-19 pandemic in the world.

– When planning the budget, we predicted that there would be no immigration by the end of 2021 and that the borders would not be opened until next year – Freidenberg said for SBS. – We must follow the health recommendations that have helped us to protect the population of Australia so far. These recommendations enabled us to keep the virus and to start a strong economic recovery with a good health situation. That is why it is vital that we continue to listen to health advice on the issue of state borders.

Freidenberg’s announcement was confirmed by Federal Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham. Morrison denied allegations by some media outlets that published his alleged words “that the borders will remain closed indefinitely” and “that Australia will not abandon the strategy of eliminating the virus.”

“The goal has never been to strive for elimination and reach zero cases. There will always be new cases abroad. “International borders will therefore be open only when it is safe to do so,” Morrison wrote on his Facebook profile.

The Prime Minister added that we have a long way to go and that we are still facing many uncertainties along the way.

“Today, people in Australia live like few other countries in the world. “We will do everything in our power to preserve that and, working together, not to allow the outbreak of the third wave, as well as to implement a vaccination program,” Morrison stated.

His words were commented by the representative of the opposition for health issues, Mark Butler. He pointed out that with a vaccination rate of 350,000 doses given per week, Australia will not be able to vaccinate the entire adult population before 2023.

– Only three weeks ago, Scott Morrison said that we could start international travel and home quarantine in July this year upon returning to the country. And today he says that Australia will remain locked forever – Butler said.

Freidenberg, the state treasurer, was asked by journalists whether the closed borders were in fact the main reason for the strong recovery of the economy, since many domestic travelers are not available to go abroad, but spend money at home. Freidenberg categorically rejected such allegations and said:

– It is just a pandemic effect and it is not permanent.

It should be added that in addition to the fact that it is not permanent, the end of this pandemic effect is not known for now. One thing is for sure – there is nothing from traveling this year.

Bad news for Quantas

The news of Australia’s continued isolation from the world will particularly affect airlines, especially Kvantas, who relied on the assessment that the borders will open in the second half of this year and that normal international traffic will be established.

Now, they, as well as the entire tourist industry, will be in a position to rely exclusively on domestic tourism for an even longer time. The question is how long Kvantas, who has already fired or sent thousands of his unpaid workers, will be able to endure in such circumstances.

Vaccination in Olympic Park

New South Wales opened the first center for mass immunization against kovids last Monday, which is located in the Olympic Park in the Sydney suburb of Homebush. It is planned that 30,000 doses per week will be given in this center, and the first to come are citizens who belong to priority groups 1a and 1b, and have not been vaccinated so far.

As of today, everyone over the age of 50 is able to register for vaccination with their general practitioners, and they will be able to receive Zenek’s vaccine from May 24. Also, the process of registration of persons between 40 and 50 years of age, who will receive Pfizer vaccines, begins.

further reading

Traveling in Serbia: Essential Statistics

Capital of Serbia: Belgrade
Population of Serbia: 7,300,000
Language in Serbia: Serbian.
Time in Serbia: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 late March to late October)
International prefix for Serbia: +381
Tension in Serbia: 220V 50Hz AC
Visa for Serbia: Visa for SerbiaMoney in Serbia: Serbian dinar (RSD). ATMs and the use of credit cards continue to expand. Cash is still the best choice in remote areas.
Serbia travel advice: Foreign Ministry
Serbia Tourism Association: Serbia

When should you go to Serbia?

The days are warm and mostly sunny from May to the end of September. Winter is cold, wet and best to be avoided.

International airports

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) is located 20 km from Belgrade.
Nis Constantine the Great Airport (INI) is located 4 km from Niš in southern Serbia.
Pristina International Airport (PRN) is located 15 km from Pristina in Kosovo.

Getting around in Serbia

In the street: Bus and coach connections are the most convenient way to get around the country and serve more remote locations. The connections between most cities are frequent, comfortable and cheap. Rental cars are also common and better for some of the more remote locations.

By train: Trains are cheaper than buses, but they are slower, less reliable and prone to breakdowns and delays.

Serbia accommodation

There is a lack of options beyond the mid-range, state-owned hotels, with luxury hotels and budget accommodations being hard to find. Private accommodation in villages and towns is on the rise and can be booked through local tourist offices.

Serbia food & drink

Serbia is famous for its grilled meat. Local dishes include pljeskavica, cooked meat patties with spices, served with onions and raznjici, shashliks or veal. Seafood is also very popular, especially trout and carp. A popular fish dish in the north is Alaska Corba i Riblji Paprikas, a spicy red stew with lots of paprika. Serbian wine is readily available and the country produces a number of spirits.

Health and Safety in Serbia

Serbia is relatively safe and robbery and violent crime are very rare. However, try to avoid large public demonstrations and areas with obvious ethical tensions.

Hospital and medical treatment is free for travelers with a UK passport. Remember to use strong sunscreen and it is best to drink bottled water.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Check the latest information on the risk of COVID-19 for Serbia on TravelHealthPro website

Please refer to the health information in the Coronavirus section for information on what to do if you think you have coronavirus in Serbia.

Check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Center (NaTHNaC) at least 8 weeks prior to your trip. Each country-specific page contains information on vaccine recommendations, current health risks or outbreaks, as well as fact sheets with information on health abroad. Instructions are also available from the NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.

General information about travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist can be found on the NHS website. You can then contact your health advisor or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and treatment of pre-existing conditions abroad.

The legal status and regulations of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK may differ in other countries. If you’re traveling on prescription or over-the-counter medication, check out this NaTHNaC guide on medication travel best practices. For more information on the legal status of a particular medicine, you need to contact the embassy, ​​high commission or consulate of the country or territory you are traveling to.

While traveling can be fun, it can be challenging at times. There are clear links between mental and physical health, so it is important to take care of yourself while traveling and abroad. For information about traveling with mental illness, please visit our guide page. You can also contact the National Travel Health Network and Center (NaTHNaC) for more information.

Health risks

There can be high levels of air pollution in Serbia. For more information and advice on air quality, see the World Health Organization (WHO) website and the World Air Quality Index website.

As of October 2017, there have been more than 3,000 cases of measles and around 10 deaths from complications in Serbia. The National Travel Health Network and Center (NaTHNaC) recommends that anyone traveling overseas ensure they are up to date on UK recommended routine vaccination courses and boosters, including the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR).

Over 100 cases of the West Nile virus have been reported in Serbia (about half in Belgrade), with about a dozen deaths. You should take reasonable precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitos.

Local medical care

Some private clinics in Serbia offer addiction treatments. You should seek advice from your local GP or health care provider in the UK prior to such treatment.

UK nationals visiting Serbia have a mutual health agreement that entitles them to free treatment for real emergencies. You will need to provide a UK passport, proof of registration with the local police (if you are not staying in a hotel) and a certificate confirming eligibility under UK social security laws. You can obtain this certificate from HM Revenue & Customs.

Health systems in all parts of Serbia suffer from widespread shortages of medicines and other essential goods. Payment in cash is usually required for non-emergency treatment or treatment that is not covered by mutual agreement. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and funds available to cover medical expenses abroad and repatriation.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, call 194 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance company immediately if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

For general medical information in Serbia, visit the website of the Serbian Ministry of Health or for specific information in Belgrade, the website of the City of Belgrade.

Air Serbia is stepping up operations to a number of destinations in the coming period as countries begin lifting entry requirements for Serbian citizens. The airline is increasing flights to Switzerland, Cyprus, Turkey and the United States, with frequencies in some cases exceeding prepandemic levels. Services for Ljubljana are also expected to increase in the coming weeks after the Slovenian government greenlisted Serbia today and lifted all entry requirements. Air Serbia will add additional frequencies between Belgrade and Zurich for a total of nineteen a week, which is the number of rotations made last summer. In a similar way, its competitor Swiss is also increasing its frequencies on the route to twelve per week.

Just days after the Cypriot government lifted entry requirements for Serbian citizens, Air Serbia is doubling its flights to Larnaca to four a week. In response, Wizz Air has brought forward the resumption of its flights between Belgrade and the Cypriot city, which will now be restored on October 15 instead of October 28. Last week the Serbian airline increased its frequencies to Istanbul from five to seven a week. Exceeds pre-pandemic levels and will offer five weekly flights to New York in October, up from two a week in the same month last year. The airline recently announced that it would also extend charter flights to Turkey until October and Egypt in November due to strong demand.

Air Serbia previously stated that its recovery will largely depend on the ongoing entry restrictions and requirements for Serbian nationals. “The challenge for us at the moment is the closed borders and travel restrictions in our main markets in Western Europe, which are severely restricting passenger traffic and thus our flights,” said Boško Rupić, Head of Trade and Corporate Sales at the airline. The borders with most of the member states of the European Union are currently closed to most Serbian citizens, with the bloc to discuss the possibility of reopening at a meeting this week. However, some EU member states, including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania and Italy, relaxed or lifted all travel restrictions last month.