CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 AFRICA UPDATES: 19/03/2020
With more than 700 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, and a number of African countries imposing a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic, coronavirus is now becoming a reality also in Africa.
The whole of Africa has rising cases with a sizeable number of countries holding out. According to the latest data, of the WHO on COVID-19 in Africa, the breakdown remains fluid as countries confirm cases as and when.
For make a easy review of the situation we accorped the cases in 3 country blocks: East, West, Central, Southern and North Africa.
All the information is subject to change at any moment. Please always check the related websites.
North Africa
Algeria – 82
Egypt – 210
Morocco – 57
Tunisia – 39
Virus-free = Western Sahara, Libya
West Africa
Benin – 1
Burkina Faso – 33
Ghana – 11
Guinea – 1
Ivory Coast – 9
Liberia – 2
Mauritania – 1
Nigeria- 3
Senegal – 36
Togo – 1
The Gambia – 1
Virus-free = Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Mali, Niger, Guinea-Bissau
Central Africa
Cameroon – 17
Central African Republic – 1
Congo-Brazzaville – 3
DR Congo – 15
Equatorial Guinea – 4
Gabon – 1
Chad – 1
Virus-free = Sao Tome and Principe
Southern Africa
Eswatini – 1
Namibia – 3
South Africa – 150
Zambia – 2
Virus-free = Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Lesotho, Angola, Botswana
East Africa
Ethiopia – 6
Kenya – 7
Rwanda – 11
Seychelles – 6
Somalia – 1
Sudan – 2
Tanzania – 3
Djibouti – 1
Mauritius – 2
Virus-free = Eritrea, Burundi, South Sudan, Uganda
COVID-19 AFRICA UPDATES
Africa will eat covid-19
Here you can find the list of what African countries are doing at their borders and if there is any travel restriction. If you’re planning on travelling to any of these countries, do your research and find out if you’ll be allowed entry.
Angola
Passengers who arrive from or have been in Algeria, Mainland China, Egypt, Iran, Italy, South Korea or Nigeria are not allowed to enter Angola. This does not apply to nationals of Angola.
Benin
Passengers from China shall be required to self-quarantine at arrival. There is no entry restriction.
Botswana
All individuals coming to Botswana from the following high-risk countries will not be allowed entry.
China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, USA, UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and India.
Botswana citizens and residents returning from high-risk countries will be subjected to 14-day mandatory quarantine as per protocol.
Issuance of Visa at Ports of entry and at all Embassies is suspended with immediate effect. Current visas are cancelled with immediate effect until further notice.
Burundi
All passenger from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, Spain and all countries of the European Union and those who have stayed in these countries during 14 days preceding their entry in Burundi shall be quarantined for 14 days.
Cameroon
Cameroon’s land, air and sea borders are closed from Wednesday 18 March 2020 0:00 AM
Tchad
Tchad Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced the suspension of all passenger flights to Chad effective 19 March 2020 midnight for a period of 14 days to contain COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, all passengers arriving from COVID -19 affected countries from Mar 17-19, 2020 will be quarantined for 14 days effective immediately. One case registered today.
Congo Brazzaville
All high risk originated flights /passengers will be prohibited starting 19th of March precisely all Europe, China, South Korea, and Iran until further notice.
Cote D’Ivoire
For a period of 15 days, from 16 Mar2020 at midnight, Cote D Ivoire has restricted non-Ivorian passengers from countries with 100 and more confirmed cases of COVID -19 from entering into the country. Ivorian nationals and non-Ivorian permanent residents will be subject to a compulsory quarantine for 14 days upon entering Ivorian territory in centers requisitioned by the state.
Djibouti
As per the statement from Djibouti Civil Aviation Authority, effective 18 Mar 2020 Djibouti airport will be closed for all commercial passenger flights as a preventive measure of COVID-19 until further notice.
This prohibition does not apply to cargo flights which are authorized to operate normally.
Egypt
All international flights to/from all Egyptian Airports are suspended except cargo flights effective March 19, 2020 1000EST to March 31, 2020 2200EST.
Equatorial Guinea
Due to COVID19, the Government of Equatorial Guinea has closed its border and all international flights are banned from 15-March-2020 to 15-April-2020. This can be extended based on the evolution of the crisis.
Eritrea
Chinese and Italian passengers shall be quarantined upon arrival.
Gabon
Effective 13th March 2020, the government of Gabon announced tourist visa holders from the European Union and United States are not allowed to enter into Gabon in addition to the already banned countries of China, South Korea and Iran.
Ghana
All travel to Ghana is strongly discouraged until further notice from immediate effect.
From 1 pm on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 any traveler, except for Ghanaian citizens and persons with Ghana residence permits, who within the last 14 days, has been to a country that has recorded at least 200 cases of COVID-19, will not be admitted into the Ghanaian jurisdiction. Airlines are instructed not to allow such persons to embark. Border posts are instructed not to allow such persons into the jurisdiction.
From 1 pm on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 there will be a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for persons who are otherwise allowed to enter the Ghanaian jurisdiction. Guidelines for self-quarantine will be available at the various Ghanaian ports of entry. Enforcement protocols are being deployed in collaboration with state security and health authorities. Persons determined to be unable to satisfactorily self-quarantine will be quarantined by the State.
From 1 pm on Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 any admissible traveler, who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 will be quarantined and tested upon reaching Ghana.
Kenya
Travel for all passengers coming into Kenya from any country with reported coronavirus cases is suspended.
All passenger’s other that the areas suspected to be affected by coronavirus will be subjected to physical and temperature screening on arrival ports of Kenya.
Only Kenyan citizens and foreigners with valid residence will be permitted to enter the country.
This directive will remain in effect for the next 30 days.
Liberia
A 14-day quarantine in a state observation centre in the West African country is compulsory for those arriving from Germany. (Last updated 11 March 2020).
Madagascar
Flights connecting Madagascar with the rest of the world, without exception, will be suspended from March 20, 2020at 12: 00 am until April 20, 2020, at 11:59 pm.
Malawi
Malawi Ministry of Health and Population dated 16 March 2020, travelers from the following countries will be required to undergo a 14 days Self-Quarantine due to the COVI-19 pandemic:
China, Italy, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea, Germany, France, Spain, USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, UK, Nederland, Norway, Belgium, Austria, Japan, Finland and Greece.
Mali
The government of Mali has temporarily suspended all passenger flights to Mali effective Thursday, 19 March 2020.
Mauritius
Passengers who reside or have been in Mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy (Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna provinces only), South Korea or Macao in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Mauritius. Nationals of Mauritius, who have been in Mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy (Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna provinces only), South Korea or Macao in the past 14 days, will be placed in quarantine.
Passengers who reside in Mauritius and have been in Mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy (Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna provinces only), South Korea or Macao in the past 14 days will be placed in quarantine. (Last updated 10 March 2020).
Namibia
Namibian Government is suspending flights from Qatar, Ethiopia and Germany following confirmed two COVID-19 cases in the country.
Accordingly, flights from Addis Ababa to Windhoek vice versa will be suspended effective 16 March, 2020 until further notice.
Niger
Niger, Niamey (NIM) International Airport will be closed starting from 19 March 2020 midnight. The airport will be closed for two weeks’ subject to change with the exception of cargo flights.
Seychelles
Passengers who have been in China (including the SAR), South Korea, Italy and Iran in the last 14 days are not permitted to enter the country.
Effective from 18 March 2020, 2000 hours, Seychelles’ time,
Any passenger who has been to ANY country in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the French Departments of Reunion and Mayotte, in the last 14 days (except returning Seychellois citizens) will NOT be allowed to enter Seychelles.
In the event that a person who has been to ANY country in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the French Departments of Reunion and Mayotte, in the last 14 days (except returning Seychellois citizens) arrives in Seychelles, he/she will not be allowed entry and the carrier airline or vessel will be responsible for the immediate return of the passenger.
All returning Seychellois citizens from ANY country in Europe including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the French Departments of Reunion and Mayotte, will be placed under obligatory quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Sierra Leone
Passengers who have transited through or have been in Mainland China in the past 14 days will be subject to immediate quarantine. (Last updated 28 February 2020).
Somalia
Passengers who have been in Mainland China in the past 20 days are not allowed to enter Somalia. Residents of Somalia who have been in China are subject to immediate quarantine for a maximum of 14 days. (Last updated 5 March 2020).
South Africa
Travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries, as of 18th of March 2019
Canceled VISA from High-Risk countries
South Africans to refrain from travel to China, Iran, USA, Italy, Spain and other high-risk countries
Any foreign nationals who have visited high-risk countries in the past 21 days will be denied VISA’s
All Travelers who have traveled to high-risk countries since February must present themselves for testing
Sudan
Sudan(North) has suspended issuing of on arrival and transit visa to passengers originating from China and/ to passengers who transited via China.
Sudan has issued a circular suspending the arrival of all passengers to Sudan from the below-listed countries either direct or transited through other points. South Korea, North Korea, France, China, Italy, Iran, Spain, Japan, Egypt.
Sudanese Nationals are exempted from this restriction.
KRT APT is closed from 16 March 2020 – 30 March 2020 for all commercial passenger flights. Only CGO schedule flight and other humanitarian flights are permitted to operate.
Tanzania & Zanzibar
The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has announced several confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tanzania. Actually one case results in Zanzibar, one in Arusha and another one in Dar Es Salaam (All cases are from people coming from infected countries).
Travelers into and out of Tanzania should be prepared for unexpected travel restrictions and health screenings. There are flight cancellations and increasingly limited flight availability. If your travel has been disrupted, please contact your airline.
Uganda
People residing in the following 7 countries (Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, China, Germany, and Spain) should consider postponing non-essential travel to Uganda. Any traveler from these countries, including Ugandan nationals will be subjected to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival to Uganda even if they do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.
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