Countries are creating 'traffic bubbles'. Border crossings in most of the world are still closed to foreigners, but states are beginning to form agreements with each other:
"We will allow citizens to travel between us, and remain closed to the rest."
The goal: to stimulate the economy - and control the virus.
After the "Baltic bubble" of Estonia and Latvia came the "Trans-Tasmanian bubble" of Australia and New Zealand.
After two months of closure and severe border restrictions, world countries are now looking for more and more ways to allow more free movement of content and between them, and a term that is increasingly heard in recent days is "traffic bubble": in the absence of the possibility of opening up to citizens of the world, different countries find them or two with whom they have special ties, and agree with them on a largely free passage of civilians between them - while remaining closed to other citizens of the world. This "bubble" can allow them to greatly replenish economic activity and, on the other hand, continue to monitor the virus effectively.
Three countries that have already declared a "bubble of movement" are the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Yesterday, their leaders announced they would open their borders to each other on May 15, creating a "bubble of movement" within the EU. "It will be a big step on the road to normal life," said Estonian Prime Minister Yuri Ratas.
The Baltic movement bubble will be the first within the EU. Most Union states have in recent months restricted the entry of those who are not their citizens, and those who may enter, forcing them into isolation to ensure that they do not spread Corona. According to the agreement announced by the Baltic states yesterday, the citizens of the three countries will be allowed to travel freely between them, while anyone who enters from outside the "bubble" will be charged with a 14-day isolation upon arrival. Subsequently, the bubble may also expand to neighboring Poland and Finland.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are major trading partners of each other and are currently taking steps to open their economies. All three have been in the EU since 2004, and in the Schengen area, which, as a rule, passenger traffic between its countries is free, have been members since 2007. In all three countries there has been a dramatic decline in the number of people infected in recent weeks, and on Tuesday no one reported more than five new cases. So far 55 people have died in Estonia from the virus, in Lithuania 48 and in Latvia 17.
In recent days, it is mentioned that the "Trans-Tasmanian" bubble will join small island states in the Pacific because they have managed to avoid significant spread of the virus in their territory. If possible, such a bubble could strengthen the economies of these islands.
New Zealand and Australia believe that even when the "bubble" is established, there will be a rigorous examination of its traffic - including temperature tests for passengers. To enable this bubble, flights will have to be resumed, and Air New Zealand has already expressed enthusiasm for reports of the intention to create the bubble.
Australia and New Zealand have very close economic ties with each other, and even after the influx of tourists from China to New Zealand since 2016 - Australia remains the main source of tourists coming from abroad to New Zealand. In the year before March 2020, New Zealand had 613,000 Australians, compared to 272,000 Chinese.
Could this be the way forward for Countries like Thailand and within Asia?
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