AMERICAS

Guatemala (Security threat level – 4): On 2 September 2021, President Alejandro Giammattei announced additional coronavirus-related restrictions in an effort to curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases. As of 4 September, the use of vehicles will be banned nightly from 2000 to 0400 local time (0200 to 1000 UTC) and social gatherings will be prohibited for at least four weeks. The largest hospital in the capital Guatemala City recently announced that it will no longer admit additional patients after reaching its capacity.

Jamaica (Security threat level – 3): On 1 September 2021, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced extensions to Jamaica’s coronavirus-related lockdowns. Travel will be prohibited during 5-7 September and 12-14 September. A 1900 to 0500 local time (0000 to 1000 UTC) nightly curfew is in place during days when movement is permitted; a stricter curfew from 1800 to 0500 local time is in place on Saturdays. Businesses must close by noon on 3 and 10 September in preparation for the lockdown measures.

United States (Security threat level – 2): At approximately 1000 local time (1400 UTC) on 2 September 2021, a private aircraft with four people on board crashed into an industrial building in Farmington, Connecticut — a town located about 12 mi (20 km) southwest of the state capital Hartford — shortly after departing nearby Robertson Airport (4B8). The Cessna Citation 560X aircraft, with registration N560 AR, initially hit the ground and skidded into the building, which belongs to the Trumpf Inc. manufacturing company. Video footage showed the aircraft engulfed in flames and plumes of smoke emanating from the site. All four individuals aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash, and two individuals in the building suffered minor injuries. While an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, the chief of the Farmington Police Department stated that the aircraft may have experienced an unspecified mechanical failure during takeoff. The aircraft — owned by the Delaware-based Brookhaven Properties company — was en route to North Carolina’s Dare County Regional Airport (KMQI/MQI) at the time of the crash.

ASIA

India (Security threat level – 3): On 2 September 2021, Indian authorities announced that travelers arriving from Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe must submit negative test results from an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arrival. An existing identical requirement remains in effect for inbound travelers from Europe, the Middle East and the U.K. In related developments, all arrivals at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (VABB/BOM) as of 3 September will be subject to a mandatory RT-PCR test upon entry at a cost of 600 Indian rupees (8.22 U.S. dollars).

AUSTRALASIA

New Zealand (Security threat level – 1): At approximately 1440 local time (0240 UTC) on 3 September 2021, an assailant armed with a knife stabbed and wounded six patrons at a supermarket in the western Auckland suburb of New Lynn. The man reportedly grabbed a large knife from a display cabinet in the store and began randomly attacking shoppers. Police officers at the scene immediately shot and killed the attacker. The victims were transported to hospitals in Auckland; three of those wounded remain in critical condition. The assailant had been under 24-hour police surveillance since 2016 on suspicion of being a supporter of the Islamic State (IS) group, and police officers had followed him to the LynnMall Countdown supermarket from his residence in the suburb of Glen Eden. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated that the terrorist attack was perpetrated by a Sri Lankan national who was sympathetic to IS. Authorities believe the assailant acted alone and had no accomplices.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

India (Security threat level – 3): On 2 September 2021, the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: “The group ‘Hindu Munnani’ has announced protests throughout Chennai at Hindu temples against the ban of Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations due to Covid. The group has called for protests today, September 2nd and Monday, September 6th. The start and end times for the protests are unknown.”

Mali (Security threat level – 5): On 3 September 2021, the U.S. Embassy in Bamako issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: “The Mouvement Baguine So is planning a demonstration on Friday, September 03, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. starting at la Bourse du Travail and traveling to the Monument de l’Indépendance to support “securing of national territory. The protest has not been approved by the local authorities.

“Demonstrations sometimes turn violent, resulting in the burning of tires, clashes with the police, blockage on the roads and bridges, throwing of rocks at vehicles, the deployment of tear gas, and small arms fire.”