COVID-19 Information and Global Service Updates
Youcall-it.com Statement 31st March 2020
UPDATE AS OF 14.58 (GMT) Tuesday 31st March
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UK: Most work still possible dependent on access permissions.
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Sweden: Some restrictions apply but generally work continues as normal
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Spain: No works possible, only essential services open until 11th April, but may be extended
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Turkey: Work still possible dependent on access permissions.
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Finland: Work still possible dependent on access permissions. Some delays in deliveries.
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North, Central and South Americas: Generally, works able to be completed normally.
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Slovakia: Remote working only.
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Germany: Service available in Germany except German islands. Out of hours calls are on a best effort basis. Some regions will be on best effort also.
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France: Service extremely limited and dependent on level of necessity and required permissions being granted.
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Japan: Borders restrictions to be extended to several more countries
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.
For travel advice: and country specific information here
UPDATE AS AT: 15.02 (GMT) Monday 30th March
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Spain: Stricter measure are in place for the next two weeks, no one in any job deemed as non-essential should go to work.
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Australia: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced strict new measures which limit movement. The new rules will restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings to two people.
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Argentina: The government will extend the mandatory nationwide quarantine period until the middle of April. The lockdown restricts non-essential workers from leaving their homes, apart from to buy food or medicines.
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Nigeria: A lockdown in the cities of Lagos and Abuja has been announced. The restrictions, which will start from 11pm local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday, will also apply to Ogun state, which borders Lagos. The lockdown will take effect for an initial period of 14 days. All businesses and offices would to close, food shops, hospitals and other essential service providers remain open.
China has reported a drop in new virus cases for a fourth day in a row. There were 31 new cases reported on Monday - of which 30 were imported.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.
For travel advice: and country specific information here
UPDATE AS AT: 14.55 (GMT) Friday 27th March
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Russia: All shops except pharmacies and grocery stores ordered to close from Saturday and next week has been designated a "non-working week". Russia has suspended all international flights. The only exception are special flights evacuating Russians from abroad. In Moscow, the mayor has ordered the closure of all bars, restaurants and city parks while international rail and sea routes to and from Russia are also closed and foreigners were stopped from entering the country a week ago.
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Spain: Some service still available, there appears to be differing levels of restrictions in different areas so confirmation will be required in the first instance.
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Hungary: Hungarian Prime Minister has introduced a nationwide lockdown for two weeks hoping to slow rates of infection. From 28 March, residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for work or to run essential errands.
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China: China will soon ban foreigners with valid Chinese visas and residence permits, in a drastic move to limit the number of imported virus cases in the country. The Foreign Ministry said the temporary ban would kick in on 28 March. Exemptions will be given to travelling diplomats and holders of "C" visas - foreigners who provide international transportation services.
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South Africa: South Africa has begun enforcing a three-week nationwide lockdown. All but essential movement is forbidden and both the army and the police are enforcing the measures. Food shops will be allowed to stay open.
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Australia: All Australians returning to the nation will be quarantined for 14 day
Further information can be found at
For travel advice: and country specific information here
UPDATE AS AT: 14.42 (GMT) Tuesday 24th March
Last night the Prime Minister of the UK tightened restrictions on shops and movements in a partial lockdown. All shops selling items deemed as non-essential are to close, these include clothing stores, electronic/gaming stores, book shops etc. Grocery, hardware and pharmacy stores are to remain open as are banks.
Gathering of more than two people are banned.
Restrictions on movements have also been increased, stating that people will only be allowed to leave their homes to:
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Shop for basic necessities as infrequently as possible
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Exercise in some form once per day
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For medical needs or to provide care for a vulnerable individual
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Travelling to and from work but only where absolutely necessary.
These measures will be reviewed after three weeks. The FCO has also advised all British nationals to return home as soon as possible.
In other areas:
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China: 78 new cases announced but 74 of those were from out of country continuing the trend of a reduction in domestic cases. The lockdown in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the global coronavirus outbreak began, will be partially lifted on 8 April. Travel restrictions in the rest of Hubei province will be lifted from midnight on Tuesday - for residents who are healthy
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Italy: The rate of increase in new cases and deaths has begun to fall with some health officials saying that this could mark the start of “flattening the curve”.
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Colombia: Mass “mandatory preventive isolation” is due to start on Wednesday, meaning people will have to stay in their homes.
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Pakistan: Sweeping restrictions are in place although the government stopped short of imposing a nationwide lockdown. However, several provinces have announced them independently. The army is being brought in to help enforce the restrictions.
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Bangladesh: The government has announced that all public and private offices will be shut from 26 March.
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Myanmar: The first two cases have been confirmed.
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Thailand: A month-long state of emergency will start on Thursday which will include curfews and checkpoints
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Sri Lanka : A nationwide curfew that was meant to end on Monday evening was extended until Thursday as the number of cases went up to 100.
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Jordan: Indefinitely extended a round-the-clock curfew on Monday.
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Israel: Expected to announce a curfew and tough penalties for violations, with people only allowed out to get food, medicine and other essential items.
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Japan: The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been postponed.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.
For travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1GatZZAjbcj9f2GlLgNezRG--Z21JMz8ORsqRMf5ELvRACvEC5GQOe_4c and country specific information here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
UPDATE AS AT: 14.20 (GMT) Monday 23rd March
Restrictions continue to be imposed across the world with most countries now imposing strict movement controls and the closure of many non-essential stores or services. Area which had seen little impact are beginning to report a growth in infection rates. Some countries where new domestic infection rates have begun to subside are seeing an second wave as people return from overseas.
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Spain: The situation continues to escalate. Madrid is severely affected.
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China: There have been no reports of new domestic infections for three days, but the number of infections from people going back into country continue.
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UK: Pubs, clubs and restaurants were instructed to close. Schools are closed from today expect for the children of those deemed key workers. Public transport is being scaled back. Several high street outlets have taken the decision to close until further notice. The government has recommended that those deemed to be at high risk should isolate for 12 weeks.
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France: The national parliament has passed a law declaring a two-month health emergency
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India: A lockdown in effect in Delhi from this morning. All public transport has stopped running and all borders with neighbouring states are closed. Only those services deemed essential are continuing. All international and domestic flights are grounded. Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata have been placed under travel, work and movement restrictions until March 31
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Germany: A ban imposed on all gatherings of more than two people who aren't family.
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Italy: All businesses deemed non-essential to close. Travel ban on leaving towns for other areas.
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Saudi Arabia: A three-week curfew from 19.00 to 06.00 to begin tonight
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Dubai: Dubai international airport will essentially shut down from 25th March.
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Australia: A nationwide shut down across the country, with pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and places of worship shutting down.
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New Zealand: The government has lifted the country's coronavirus alert status to level 3 - and is set to rise to level 4 which means all non-essential services will have to close. The changes will come into effect in around 48 hours meaning schools will close and people will be instructed to stay at home.
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Morocco: Military vehicles were into the streets to order people to stay at home. Police are also enforcing the message. A public health state of emergency went into effect on Friday.
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Singapore: While managing to control an initial wave of infections there is now a second wave from returning citizens. The government has now imposed strict measures such as banning all tourists and even some work pass holders from returning.
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Pakistan: Authorities have banned all international flights and the province of Sindh, which has reported the highest number of cases, is under lockdown.
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Sri Lanka: The island has seen 77 confirmed cases, prompting a temporary curfew.
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Bangladesh: 25 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and authorities have banned all international flights and shut down schools and colleges.
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Indonesia: Shut down measures began in Jakarta on Monday. The city has declared a state of emergency, announcing that public entertainment spaces like bars, cinemas and restaurants would be shut on Monday until 2 April. Public transport operators are also limiting their services - with operating hours cut down in a bid to reduce passenger numbers.
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Hong Kong: Hong Kong will ban all tourists and transit travellers to the city for 14 days from Wednesday. All bars, pubs and entertainment venues will also be asked to shut. Hong Kong is already quarantining all people arriving from abroad, and mainland China, for 14 days.
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Ecuador: A curfew was introduced at the weekend, keeping people off the streets from 19:00 to 05:00 local time
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Brazil: São Paulo Governor João Doria imposed a 15-day shutdown, though the national government is in disagreement as to the necessity of such measure.
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El Salvador: Introduced a strict new curfew and is detaining those who don’t comply.
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Mexico: in Mexico City gyms, bars, theatres and more, are closing from Monday until 19 April. Shopping malls and restaurants will stay open, and gatherings are being limited to 50 people.
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Croatia: As well as restrictions due to Covid-19, the capital Zagreb was hit by a 5.3-magnitude quake, the largest to affect the city in 140 years.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.
For travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1GatZZAjbcj9f2GlLgNezRG--Z21JMz8ORsqRMf5ELvRACvEC5GQOe_4c and country specific information here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
UPDATE AS AT 15.10 (GMT) 18th March 2020
Restrictions continue to be imposed across Europe with many countries now imposing strict movement controls and the closure of many non-essential stores or services.
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Belgium: The country is the latest to go into a state of lockdown from 11.00am (GMT) today. Some stores and services remain open but under strict conditions.
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USA: The US has closed its border with Canada to non-essential traffic, but goods should not be affected. Partners are not reporting an interruption to service yet.
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UK: Scotland and Wales have announced the imminent closure of schools, with England expected to announce the same later today. It’s is not yet known what affect this may have on service.
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Australia: The government has announced two new key restrictions on travel and social settings. "Non-essential" gatherings of more than 100 people are now banned, while Australians have also been told to not travel overseas. We are not reporting an interruption to service
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Philippines: The Philippines have reversed a ban on inbound foreign travellers, but they will have to undergo strict testing and isolation protocols.
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Ukraine: Most public transport in Ukraine is shutting down, and only buses and trams are allowed in cities.
An EU travel ban for non-EU citizens has come into force.
The pandemic does not appear to have affected Africa on the same scale as Asia or Europe, but new cases continue to emerge, and countries are beginning to impose travel restrictions.
Eight countries in the South East Asia region have confirmed cases, with the World Health Organisation advising harsher restrictions may need to be imposed. The closure of the border between Malaysia and Singapore is influencing the availability of workers who cross into Singapore daily.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.
For travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1GatZZAjbcj9f2GlLgNezRG--Z21JMz8ORsqRMf5ELvRACvEC5GQOe_4c and country specific information here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
UPDATE AS AT 14.45 (GMT) 17th March 2020
Multiple countries are now introducing severe restrictions on movement, including most non-essential shops and services closing.
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France: From today there will be a nationwide lockdown and infractions could be punished.
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Germany: Most non-grocery shops and venues have been ordered to shut.
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Switzerland: The country has declared a national emergency.
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Turkey: Restrictions on access have been extended to UK nationals.
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Russia: A ban on the entry of foreign nationals and stateless people from March 18 to May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak will be introduced.
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India: A ban on entry for UK and EU nationals.
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USA: A continued increase in the severity of restrictions across the country, although many are operating as normal.
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Serbia: The governments has declared a national emergency adding that they will formulate the “harshest measures” soon.
The FCO has advised against all but essential travel outside of the UK for 30 days, although this will be under continuous review. While this does not stop travel the levels of disruption this will cause can not be known. The Prime Minister advised yesterday that those in “at risk” groups be prepared to severely restrict movements for 12 weeks and households where there has been a suspected case isolate for 14 days.
While recommendations were made yesterday to avoid public areas such as pubs, restaurants, cinemas, etc. by the UK government this was not a lockdown, so while shops may remain open, staffing and company policy may determine otherwise.
It is expected the EU will suspend all travel from external (ie. non-Schengen) countries and ban all non-essential travel in the Schengen free-travel zone.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.
For travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR1GatZZAjbcj9f2GlLgNezRG--Z21JMz8ORsqRMf5ELvRACvEC5GQOe_4c and country specific information here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
UPDATE AS AT 15.01 (GMT) 16th March 2020
In addition to those listed below we are now reporting we are currently reporting issues in the following countries:
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Germany: Certain areas becoming restricted access only. Schools closing reducing available resources. There is the potential for works to be completed dependant on location and type required, however it should be noted that these would need be completed on a Best Effort basis. The country has closed its borders and the Bavarian region has been declared a disaster zone.
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Spain: The country is now in a full shutdown, no works possible. This is expected to continue until March 27th
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France: Further information is expected later tonight with the potential of a lockdown, similar to that in Spain. Works are continuing, where access and resource permit, but this may change at short notice.
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Portugal: Any existing requests will be completed on a Best Effort basis; however no new requests will be fulfilled, and all activities suspended pending further advice.
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Lithuania: A full quarantine will be in effect from 16th until 30th March
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Canada: Reports from Toronto that they are on lockdown - office workers to stay home for 2-weeks; public spaces (libraries, etc), restaurants, bars told to cut capacity by 50%
Several more countries have restricted access to foreign nationals from affected areas and more still have closed their borders to all foreign nationals. In some of these cases the FCO have advised against all or all but essential travel.
Europe is now designated the epicentre of the pandemic and the situation is evolving at a rapid pace, but the virus is being to have an impact in other continents as well.
The USA have enacted travel restrictions from multiple affected countries including the UK and a state of emergency has been declared. It is still to be seen the exact impact this will have on service but currently works are unimpeded.
For several countries in South America the FCO advised as all but essential travel, including Argentina and Peru.
In Qatar, from the evening of 18 March for a period of at least 14 days (which may be subject to further extension), no international passengers – including those with a residence permit - will be allowed to enter. Transit passengers going on to another destination will still be able to transfer through, and most flights continue to run.
Oman has also restricted access to all but Omani and GCC residents.
South Africa is introducing screening policies for all foreign nationals with the possibility of a 14-day self-isolation requirement. All but essential travel is not advised for the entirety of Kenya.
Australia also will impose a 14-day self-isolation period for all foreign nationals entering the country with the exception of Pacific Islanders.
The situation in China appears to be continuing to improve, however severe restrictions are still in place.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response and country specific information here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
UPDATE AS AT: 15:45 (GMT) 13th March 2020
We are currently reporting issues in the following countries:
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Italy: Widespread travel restriction with severe impact on works.
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Spain: Recent change to FCO travel advice; “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) against all but essential travel to the regions that the Spanish Ministry of Health have designated as areas of community transmission of coronavirus, as follows: Madrid and La Rioja, and the municipalities of La Bastida and Vitoria (both in the Basque Country) and Miranda de Ebro (in Castilla y León)” It is expected that there will be a severe disruption to service as the shops begin to shut down.
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Poland: All works currently cancelled for the next two weeks after Government advice. It is expected that the situation in Poland will escalate in the coming days.
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Netherlands and Belgium: Although we are not currently reporting any disruption the situation is fluid. Works can be undertaken but on a Best Effort understanding.
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Denmark: All public works has been shutdown, most offices closed. Work can be undertaken but all necessary precautions must be taken.
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Sweden: Low level impact resulting in administrative delays. Some sites closed.
Other travel restrictions apply as several countries have limited the access of foreign nationals and others have close their borders entirely. Czech Republic and Slovakia close borders to foreigners except those with residence permits and Malta announces mandatory quarantines for new arrivals.
For further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
UPDATE AS AT: 16.15 (GMT) 12th March 2020
Since our statement (read below) on Tuesday there have been several significant developments in the global response to Covid-19, although this list is likely to be superseded and subject to amendment:
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Flights to USA suspended from most European countries;
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Italy is on national lockdown;
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Denmark is on national lockdown;
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Slovakia has closed national borders to non-residents;
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30% reduction in flights to/from South America;
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Netherlands ban on gatherings over 100 people;
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Republic of Ireland schools closed;
Other Country Statues as of 12th March 2020
China – Restrictions within Wuhan province, inter-city travel difficult however resource already located in region available, Logistical issues impacting transport of hardware.
With the growing concern over the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) a slow down in available travelling resource is to be expected, along with the resultant impact on service levels and project completion. Currently, Covid-19 has been identified in 73 countries with over 110,000 confirmed cases worldwide.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
In this environment everyone is looking for ways to mitigate the risks, not just of becoming infected themselves, but of spreading that infection to others. Part of this mitigation has been restriction of movement in areas that have been affected by an outbreak, meaning a lack of resource may be available in these areas for service requests. While these areas are currently limited, there is the potential for this to increase.
At YouCall-IT.com we are committed to working directly with local resources, we have the ability to meet requirement where others are unable.
We work across multiple regions all over the world– this has always been our business model to provide work as close to the client site from the engineer home base as possible, you log a service call in Milan, it will be an engineer from Milan who carries out the work; major deployment of new hardware in Tokyo – locally-based engineers will be making those connections.
We work with some of the very best service providers and suppliers in their respective countries. If you’re looking for IT support in these difficult circumstances then let us help.
On this page, you will receive regular updates including current engineer resource levels and availability.
To monitor the progress across the globe of COVID-19 you can view this interactive map produced by John Hopkins CSSE - by clicking HERE
Italy – Severe restrictions are now in place across Italy
On 9th March Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced an increase in travel restrictions across Italy.
Currently we are reporting no service available in the following locations:
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Venezia
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Bergamo
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Cremona
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Lodi
Other regions are not reporting a disruption at the moment but this is subject to change.
The measures will last until 3 April.
Please see current works status on the youcall-it.com platform for the most up to date information.
Lockdown information (source CNN)
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/08/europe/italy-coronavirus-lockdown-europe-intl/index.html
The UK Foreign Office has also advised against all but essential travel to a number of regions in the country
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy