More countries extend lockdown
Many countries have extended their lockdowns due to the COVID-19 crisis, including Mauritius.
There, the lockdown has been extended until May 4, according to the Government of Mauritius website. Air Mauritius has cancelled flights to South Africa until May 15, the airline confirmed in a statement.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced that the country’s lockdown would be extended until May 11. However, restaurants, cafés, hotels, museums and cultural sites must stay closed, and large festivals and events may only be allowed after mid-July, he said. France’s borders with non-EU countries would remain closed beyond May 11.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced during a televised address to the nation that India’s lockdown would be extended until May 3.
Meanwhile, Australia has warned that international travel could be on hold for the rest of the year.
“I wouldn’t put any guarantees that [Australians] could undertake that overseas trip in December,” Australian Federal Tourism Minister, Simon Birmingham, said in a televised interview.
International travel could be “the very last thing that is reactivated” after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, he said.
