International Expansion and New Service Offering Align With Market Trends and Client Demands

(McLean, VA) August 10, 2021 – Global Guardian, the leading provider of international security and medical services for Fortune 500 companies and families, announces an expansion of its services and senior leadership team in anticipation of the future needs of its clients. The company’s 24/7 emergency response capabilities will be available in 131 countries, in addition to offering remote capabilities in 58 countries. This on-the-ground support is a key differentiator in the security industry. Instead of relying on third-party operators to drive or fly to countries to assist in times of crisis, Global Guardian’s in-country response teams are local, well-connected, speak English and the local languages, and can be deployed immediately, providing a faster and better emergency response.

Situation Update

On 01 August Myanmar’s de facto leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, declared himself prime minister in announcing a new caretaker government. Hlaing pledged to hold elections in August 2023, after previously announcing in February that elections would be held in February 2022. This announcement comes six months to the day after the military (Tatmadaw) coup against the newly elected civilian government on 01 February after claiming “voter fraud”, an allegation that has not been reliably substantiated. Since the February coup, Myanmar has been plagued by violence and instability. Over 950 people have been killed and over 7000 people have been arrested, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior civilian politicians.

Global DEVELOPMENTS

• As of 02 August, England will be open to vaccinated travelers from the USA and Europe, without the need to quarantine. Arrivals who have been fully vaccinated in the USA and European countries will still be required to complete a pre-departure test before arrival into England, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival. 
  • Separate rules will continue to apply for those arriving from France.
  • Those vaccinated in the US will also need to provide proof of US residency.
  • Passengers from all countries cannot travel to the UK unless they have completed a passenger locator form.
    
• The US CDC updated its guidance for mask wearing amid the spread of the Delta variant across most of the country. 
  
  • They recommend for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
  • They added guidance that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.

Global DEVELOPMENTS

• Europe has largely reopened to American tourists. The UK is not far behind, with planned lifting of quarantine restrictions on 19 July for those vaccinated through the NHS arriving from "amber list" countries. Fully vaccinated American tourists will be allowed into the UK later in the summer. See below map for breakdown.
• New cases are surging in Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands; however, deaths remain relatively flat, highlighting the power of vaccines in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.
  
• Southeast Asia, which has for the most part managed the pandemic well, is in the midst of a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines may experience shortages of hospital beds and oxygen in the coming weeks. Many countries in the region have imposed new restrictions.
  
• Latin America and southern Africa remain global hotspots for COVID-19 cases and deaths amid presence of variants and low vaccination rates.

UNITED STATES LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Maryland-based Novavax recently announced promising Phase 3 trial results for its protein-based vaccine. The two-dose vaccine has an estimated efficacy of 90.4% based on a study of 30,000 volunteers in the U.S. and Mexico. It expects to seek emergency authorization use later this year. It does not require special refrigeration and could be the key to vaccinating the third world. 
  
• Only Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, and Michigan have not fully reopened. Michigan and Washington will be open by 1 July while New Mexico and Oregon are waiting for residents to hit key vaccine milestones. 
  
• The U.S. announced it will buy 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for distribution to 100 low-and middle-income countries.

For the latest United States case counts, click here.

Security Firms With Wealthy Clients Are Ramping for Surge in Travel

"People are thinking they lost a year of their lives, and in the back of their minds, they're thinking, 'What if this happens again?'"

In a recent Business Insider article, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the expected surge of summer travel as countries around the globe reopen, and how Global Guardian is preparing to support family clients with their travel safety and security needs.