More countries tighten controls over Ebola More countries have tightened restrictions for travellers originating from Ebola-affected countries, including South Africa. The South African Department of Health has issued a travel advisory against all but essential travel to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone. “South Africans are not restricted from travelling to these countries, however all returning travellers from these countries will be subjected to rigorous screening and medical assessments before being allowed entry into the country,” a statement said. Meanwhile, the South African government has also issued a travel ban for all non-citizens travelling from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in an attempt to prevent the spread of Ebola into South Africa. Non-citizens will only be allowed into South Africa when travelling from these high-risk countries if the entry into the country is considered ‘absolutely essential’. Modipe Nkwe, manager of Public Affairs for the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, denied that the country had closed its borders to travellers from Ebola-affected countries, but both the African Travel And Tourism Association (ATTA) and Botswana Tourism have reported that travellers from Ebola-affected areas were being turned away at the airport. According to Modipe, Botswana’s airports are currently performing thorough health checks for travellers from West Africa on entry into the country. He said: “This may cause some delay, hence we kindly request that travellers exercise some patience as this is an important public health intervention to prevent cases coming into the country. Any inconvenience that this may cause is highly regrettable.” However, ATTA reported earlier this week that an SA-based tour operator travelling with US tourists was refused entry into Botswana because they had arrived from Lagos, Nigeria. The travellers were forced to cancel their safari in the Delta as a result, and were faced with 100% cancellation charges by accommodation providers. Keitumetse Setlang, Botswana Tourism, also told eTNW the organisation was aware of the fact that people are currently being turned back at the airport. She said: “This is in the best interest of the people and the country.” Botswana’s health deputy permanent secretary, Shenaaz El-Halabi, explained during a recent media briefing in Gaborone that Botswana is screening all arrivals from West Africa and that the country has implemented travel restrictions for visitors from the four already affected countries. These measures are part of a new comprehensive Preparedness Plan. Although Zambia has not issued a ban yet, the country also announced it would thoroughly check all travellers from Ebola-affected countries. Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said all people coming from Ebola-affected countries were ‘discouraged’ from visiting Zambia or they would undergo intensive screening and testing processes if they visited the country. Kenya issued a ban this week. The Kenyan Minister of Health, James Macharia, said the country would temporarily suspend entry into Kenya of passengers travelling from and through the three West African countries affected by Ebola: Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia from August 19. Meanwhile, nationals from Ebola-affected countries now require a temporary visa to enter the Seychelles. To reduce the risk of introduction of the Ebola virus in the Seychelles, the Public Health Authority of the Republic of Seychelles has, in conjunction with the Department of immigration, imposed a temporary visa requirement for the nationals of the following countries: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad, Congo, D.R. Congo, Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal. eTNW
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 07:22:41 +0000
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