As of 21 April, more than 2.3 million confirmed cases and over 160,000 deaths have been reported globally since the outbreak began. Confirmed cases have been reported in more than 200  countries/territories/areas, with new cases and countries reporting daily.

The total number of COVID-19 related mobility restrictions reached 48,588 on 20 April 2020, marking a slight increase of nearly one percent from the 48,359 recorded on 17 April, as well as a similar one percent increase on restrictions on the arrival of passengers from specific countries, territories or areas.

A variety of factors related to COVID-19, including border closures, high prevalence of the disease in certain countries, and conflict de-escalation measures (in order to allow for COVID-19 prevention and response), have caused sizable returns in many regions of the world. These types of movements are concerning for a variety of reasons, but key among them is the fact that many of the receiving locations have even less capacity to provide testing, isolation and treatment, and thus may in fact drive transmission even further.