SPOTLIGHT
GLOBAL PANDEMIC

COVID-19 portal
A co-ordinated global dynamic response formed by insights, resources and thought-leadership designed to help our clients improve business agility, resilience, efficiency.
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Hong Kong Vaccine Pass and COVID-Related Restrictions – At A Glance (Update: 21 March 2022)
The Hong Kong government has imposed a number of restrictions and measures which most notably now include the requirement for a “Vaccine Pass” to enter certain premises. We summarise the latest obligations and requirements (based on what we know so far) and other key COVID-related restrictions.

COVID-19: Employer Guidance on Vaccines
Many countries have started to roll out vaccines against COVID-19. While a vaccination program is viewed by many as the long-awaited route out of the pandemic, this presents challenges for employers—including whether they can require employees to be vaccinated. In this publication, we provide at-a-glance guidance to the key issues for employers to consider in Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the UK and the United States, followed by more detailed Q&As for each of these jurisdictions.

Australia Plans to Reopen to All Fully Vaccinated Visa Holders, Including Visitors
Effective February 21, 2022, the Australian government will reopen the country’s borders to all fully vaccinated visa holders. The government’s announcement means that, for the first time in nearly two years, fully vaccinated tourists, business travelers, and others will be allowed to enter Australia without first receiving a travel exemption.

COVID 19: ANP Extends Deadline for Investments in Research, Development, Innovation
On January 18, 2022, Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (“ANP”) published Resolution No. 865/2022 which extends the deadlines for investments in research, development and innovation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic(“Resolution”).

The Hong Kong Vaccine Bubble for the Catering Business – At A Glance (Updated on 6 January 2022)
Social distancing rules have been tightened from 7 to 20 January 2022. For catering businesses (excluding bars and pubs which will be closed), with the abolition of Mode A, there will now be only three modes of operation in which they can operate dine-in services, all of which require the customers (except for certain exempted individuals) to use the LeaveHomeSafe (LHS) mobile application before entering the premises.

OSHA’s Vaccine-or-Test Mandate for Large US Employers is Reinstated, Prompting Request for Supreme Court Intervention
On December 17, 2021, the Sixth Circuit dissolved the Fifth Circuit’s nationwide stay of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s “vax or test” Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), applying to US employers with 100 or more employees.

COVID-19 Related Circulars or Guidance (Non-Exhaustive) Published By Financial Services Regulators of Hong Kong (Last Updated: 8 November 2021)
We have compiled a chronology table which serves as a quick reference point to track the circulars and guidance published by HK financial services regulators in relation to COVID-19.

Charges Against US Bank Employees May Represent a New Frontier in COVID-Relief Fraud Cases
A virtual discussion on the regulatory aspects of the EO, its potential policy outcomes, and practical impacts on affected businesses. On July 9, 2021, President Joe Biden issued a far-reaching executive order (EO) on Promoting Competition in the American Economy that establishes a “whole-of-government effort” aimed at reducing corporate consolidation. The EO calls for federal agencies to undertake 72 separate initiatives across a range of industry sectors, including financial services, technology, transportation and communication services.
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Non-GAAP Measures in the Wake of COVID-19
The use of non-GAAP financial measures by public companies continues to draw regulatory scrutiny and media attention.
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Immigration Under the Biden Administration
This podcast provides an overview of the immigration challenges facing the Biden administration, focusing on business immigration and workforce mobility.