Human Cost of COVID Travel Bans: Thousands Stranded for Over 18 Months

There was much heartache for bi-national families during COVID-19 travel restrictions. Carlos Osorio/Reuters

Evidence of the substantial human cost of COVID-19 travel and border restrictions has emerged in new reports, particularly for the tens of thousands of international travellers who were stranded overseas and separated from their loved ones for over 18 months during the pandemic.

Lead author Pippa McDermid from the University of New South Wales said that most studies have looked at the impacts of travel bans from a disease-mitigating standpoint.

“At the time of writing these studies, most of the literature was focused on the impacts of travel restrictions from a reducing disease importation perspective,” McDermid said of her paper, an early release from the 2023 European microbiology and infectious diseases event to be held in Copenhagen from April 15 to 18.

However, less research was focused on the effect of restrictions on those unable to return to their countries including tourists, business travellers, international students, families, and short-term migrant workers.

‘Little Attention Paid to Consequences on People’s Lives’

The researchers analysed COVID-19-related information and support options provided by 11 governments to their citizens stranded overseas in June 2021.

These governments include Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, the U.S., the UK, France, Spain, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

While most countries provided some level of assistance around repatriation options, border control and re-entry measures, medical assistance, and traveller registration, no country provided all these avenues of support.

Only three countries provided emergency housing support and six provided mental health support, while less than half offered some form of financial assistance.

Citizens stranded abroad reported inadequate financial and health support and communication from their national governments.

“Very little attention has been paid to the unintended consequences of these restrictions on people’s lives and wellbeing,” co-author and infectious diseases social scientist Holly Seale said.

“Often the focus is on tourism and holidays, yet many tens of thousands of people were separated from their partners or families for 18 months or more.”

Travellers arriving on the first quarantine-free international flights are embraced by family at Sydney International Airport on Nov. 1, 2021. Bianca De Marchi/AAP

The respondents also reported poor accessibility and quality of the information provided by government websites in Australia, Canada, the UK, and France, particularly for people with low literacy, disabilities, or limited English language proficiency.

“Out of the four countries who had dedicated websites for citizens abroad, Australia scored the worst overall for readability, accessibility, and usability,” McDermid said.

“Crisis communication during future events similar to this needs to consider the specific needs of older groups, those for whom English is their second language, and those with low technology and health literacy.”

They hoped that mapping the impact of border and travel restrictions on international and Australian travellers would help policymakers plan and communicate support packages for vulnerable populations in future public health crises.

Depression and Anxiety of the Stranded

COVID-19 travel restrictions’ impact on mental health was also considerable, according to further research by the team published in PLOS ONE and BMJ Open.

Of the 2,400 individuals stranded abroad, over half of the group had been deserted for over five months.

The majority had more than one flight cancellation or change.

Almost two-thirds (64 percent) experienced financial stress and moderate-to-severe depression.

Border rules have been tough for citizens stuck abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christopher Catbagan/Unsplash

The levels of distress were expectedly higher among those separated from their families and temporary visa holders.

Of these, over 70 percent reported financial hardship, with an average expenditure of US$7,285. Nearly 80 percent reported moderate to extremely severe depression.

“The levels of distress reported by this particularly vulnerable group are dramatically higher—over 50 percent more severe in some cases—than those reported by migrant workers, healthcare workers, and the general population during the pandemic,” Seale said.

“Respondents also reported little to no assistance from their national governments, highlighting the importance of providing additional support to this vulnerable group in future public health crises.”

Milestones Missed

Travel bans have also led to many missed key life moments such as weddings, births, and funerals. Bi-national families were also separated for extended periods with unknown end dates.

Due to border rules between the U.S. and Canada, Eric Chambers reported his experiences of being unable to cross the divide to see his family.

“Canadian/American families could never have anticipated being separated this way and for this long,” he told the Epoch Times.

“We have loved ones that did not survive to see the lifting of the restrictions, that we can never see again.”

A woman hugs her grandson who she meets for the first time at Sydney International Airport as the New Zealand-Australia travel bubble opens on April 19, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. Jenny Evans/Getty Images

While border restrictions have mostly been lifted, many international borders are still technically closed to unvaccinated foreigners.

The popular countries that currently require vaccination passes to enter include the U.S., Japan, Indonesia, and India.

Even if one is vaccinated, travellers may still be required to undergo testing or quarantine procedures.

Countries such as Canada, South Korea, Thailand, Spain, Taiwan, Norway, and the UK have dropped all entry requirements.