Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain) in Copenhagen, Denmark reveals the high human costs and negative impacts of border restrictions and travel bans during the COVID-19 pandemic on citizens stranded abroad.
"Very little attention has been paid to the unintended consequences of these restrictions on people's lives and well-being," says Dr. Seale."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. We hope our findings will help policymakers plan and communicate support packages for this vulnerable population in future public health crises.
"Our findings highlighted gaps, inconsistencies, and potential inequities in support available, and raise issues pertinent to the quality, accessibility, and usability of information," says Dr. Seale.In further research to examine the psychological and financial impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions, the team surveyed more than 2,400 individuals stranded abroad across all six regions globally between July and September 2021 and November and December 2021.