Tag Archive for: tourism

Andrew Stegmann
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Nigeria Places Travel Restrictions on South Africans to Curb New COVID Variant

Passengers travelling from South Africa to Nigeria will be subject to strict regulations effective from Monday 28 December 2020. The latest travel restrictions follow the discovery of 501.V2, a mutation of Covid-19 which is more contagious than the original virus.

While several countries have announced outright travel bans prohibiting the entry of passengers departing, or transiting through, South Africa, Nigeria has opted for a monitored approach.

Passengers from the UK and South Africa will be allowed to enter Nigeria on the condition that they present two documents. Travellers will need to obtain a pre-departure permit to fly – in the form of a unique QR code – from the Nigeria International Travel Portal. Additionally, visitors are required to submit proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test, obtained within 96 hours of the scheduled departure time.

Incoming passengers will be received and processed separately when disembarking from their flights. Nigeria’s Public Health Authority will oversee the arrival of passengers from both the UK and South Africa, with stringent isolated screening processes in place to prevent Covid-19 transmission within the confines of the airport.

Even with a negative Covid-19 test result, all passengers arriving from South Africa will be subjected to a mandatory seven-day quarantine period. Travellers will again be tested on the seventh day of self-isolation. A negative result will allow travellers to exit quarantine while a positive PCR test will require further isolation for a period prescribed by the Public Health Authority.

Incoming travellers will be monitored closely throughout their quarantine stay and have been urged to comply with all restrictions imposed by the Public Health Authority.

The government has also issued a stern warning to airlines which fail to follow protocols. Penalties include a fine of $3,500 (R51,000) for each defaulting passenger. Airlines may also be expected to return non-Nigerian defaulting passengers. Repeated non-compliance by any airline will lead to the suspension of the Airline`s Approval/Permit to fly into the country.

The announcement comes just days after the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that a new Covid-19 variant had been discovered in Nigeria. “It’s a separate lineage from the UK and the South African lineages,” said John Nkengasong, director of the African CDC.

Nkengasong added that it was still too early to tell if the new variant discovered in Nigeria was more contagious.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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South Africa to Make COVID-19 Screening Easier for Travellers

The Department of Health plans to launch a new digital screening pilot project which will allow travellers to complete a required travel health questionnaire (THQ) on their personal devices ahead of their arrival at ports of entry.

The move from paper-based screening systems to a digitized screening solution will take place in a phased approach, the department said.

“The web-based THQ platform will complement and strengthen the existing method of screening and surveillance at ports of entry, as a user-friendly tool allowing travellers to complete the travel health questionnaire on their personal devices prior to their travel,” it said.

How it works

The web-based travel screening solution will allow travellers to complete their travel and symptomatic information at any time from two days ahead of their journey to ensure that the exposure and symptoms information provided is relevant.

Once completed, the traveller will receive a unique number (look-up ID) which they will present to the Port Health official at the respective port of entry to proceed with the screening process.

Over time, as more travellers use this system it can save them time and help fast-track screening at ports of entry.

The department said it will introduce through a pilot, a digitized screening system for international travellers arriving and departing from South Africa.

As of the 17 December 2020, international travellers arriving at O.R Tambo International Airport, those departing from Cape Town International Airport, those entering the country through Beit Bridge land border and those exiting through Maseru Bridge land border will be expected to complete the web-based THQ.

The paper-based system for Covid-19 screening will continue to be in operation at all other operational ports of entry, the department said.

“This system will play a critical role in assisting Port Health with managing travellers, identifying potential high-risk travellers and to respond effectively.”

Security of personal information was one of the top priorities throughout the development of this system. Accordingly, best practice guidelines as per the POPI Act are followed to protect all traveller’s personal information at all times.

Why it’s being introduced 

The department said that the travel system will provide ‘additional armour’ to better manage and survey travellers to prevent importation and exporting of the virus.

The system will also provide better data collection and storage which can be helpful with identifying potential high-risk travellers, it said.

“An algorithm that helps determine the risk profile of travellers is embedded in the system. In the event of a positive case, the system will assist with identifying potentially exposed travellers who were in proximity to the positive case, further assisting with better contact tracing.”

The department said that the new travel system will go live from midday on 15 December to allow travellers to complete the web-based form ahead of their travel, It can be accessed through this link.

Travellers who have already booked their tickets can still access the web-based THQ at any time after the system goes live, the department said.

It added that travellers will still be subjected to the screening protocols in ports of entry, including temperature screening and are still required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result obtained not more than 72 hours from time of departure.

Travellers arriving into South Africa are also required to download the Covid Alert SA application on their mobile phones.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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Air Peace launches Lagos to Johannesburg Flights

Nigeria’s Air Peace began Lagos to Johannesburg flights on 17 December 2020, using its sole B777-200ER.

The 4,511-kilometre route currently has no direct competition and is operated twice-weekly with an elapsed time of six hours in both directions.

It leaves Lagos at 0100, arrives Johannesburg at 0800, departs at 1100, and arrives back at 1600.

South African Airways has operated the route for years on which the airline had over 232,000 seats – its most – in 2014. It’ll resume the route on a daily basis from 1 February 2021.

Arik Air operated it until 2017 and depending on the year it variously used B737-800s, A330-200s, and A340-500s.

Virgin Nigeria operated it briefly in 2012 using A330-200s.

At its peak in 2014, Lagos – Johannesburg had over 462,000 seats, but this diminished to just 179,000 in 2019.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

All the Countries That Have Banned South African Flights, Or May Soon, Due to the New Corona Variant

Several countries have imposed travel bans on South Africa after a new, potentially more infectious SARS-CoV-2 mutation was confirmed.

The 501.v2 variant has been identified in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and along the Garden Route. It may have properties that allow it to spread faster than other variants of the coronavirus.

A new, and also possibly more virulent variant has, similarly, been confirmed in the UK by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who announced tougher lockdown measures for London on Saturday 19 December. Following the announcement, dozens of countries have banned flights from the UK.

These countries have already closed their borders to South African travellers in response to the new variant.

Israel

On Sunday 20 December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that all commercial flights from Britain, Denmark and South Africa had been suspended. Any travellers returning to Israel, who had spent any period of time in either Britain, Denmark or South Africa in the past 30-days, will be subject to a mandatory quarantine period.

Turkey

Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced a temporary ban on all flights from Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and South Africa, citing dangers of the new Covid-19 variant. “It has been reported that the rate of transmission has increased with the mutation of the coronavirus,” said Koca.

Germany

Germany’s Federal Minister for Health Jens Spahn confirmed that flights from the UK and South Africa would be suspended from Monday 21 December. “Because of the reported coronavirus mutation, the federal government intends to restrict travel options between Germany and Great Britain and South Africa,” added government spokeswoman Martina Fietz.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the suspension of all international flights. Passengers in transit on Monday 21 December will, however, be allowed to complete their travel plans. The suspension will last until the end of 2020 and may be extended if cases continue to rise in high-risk countries.

Switzerland

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation “suspended all air traffic connections” with South Africa and the UK on Sunday night. “Switzerland is reacting to the appearance of a new variant of the coronavirus, which, according to initial findings, is significantly more contagious than the known form,” the authority said in a statement.

These countries have banned travel from the UK, which makes bans on SA likely to follow

The UK has been hit with a swell of flight suspensions across the European Union and the world. Bans impacting South Africa, as a result of the 501.v2 variant’s presence, are likely to follow.

  • France
  • The Netherlands
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Belgium
  • Lithuania
  • Latvia
  • Estonia
  • Italy
  • India
  • Ireland (flights and ferries)
  • Austria
  • Hong Kong
  • Canada
  • El Salvador
  • Colombia
  • Morocco
  • Chile (effective Tuesday)
  • Finland
  • Argentina

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].