At a press convention on 30 September, the Coronavirus National Command Council (NCCC) announced that South Africa would reopen its borders and ports of access for foreign business and recreation on Thursday, October 1, according to recommendations issued through the World Health Organization (WHO).
“The slow reopening of borders and ports of access illuminated a cautious technique that a limited number of ports of access and borders will be open from 1 October 2020,” said Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor.
Three airports will be open and operational for air travel: OR Tambo International in Johannesburg, Cape Town International and King Shaka International in Durban.
All travelers must adhere to strict protocols established through the government.
“Travellers intending to enter the country must present a PCR [chain reaction through polymers] check that is no more than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa,” Pandor said.
He said that if the traveler had symptoms of Covid-19 or had been in contact with an inflamed person, he performed a mandatory control of Covid-19 on his own.
If the check is positive, the traveler will be subject to about 40 10 days in a designated person through the state, already charged by the traveler.
Although South Africa’s borders open on Thursday, there are restrictions.
“South Africa has developed a categorization style for other foreign travellers. This style ranks foreign travelers on a high, medium and low scale,” Pandor said.
Low-risk travellers are those in countries where the number of Covid-19 infections and deaths is lower than in South Africa.
Medium-risk travellers come from countries where the number of infections and deaths is equivalent to that of South Africa.
High-risk travellers come from countries where the number of infections and deaths is particularly higher than in South Africa.
NCCCs in high-risk countries:
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Falun Islands, France, French Polynesia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Crete, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nepal, Northern Macedonia, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, St. Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks , United Kingdom, United States, U. S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela,
South Africans can enter any country, whether for recreation or business, if that country allows it. However, if you decide to go to a high-risk country, you will be treated as a high-risk ler when you return south. Africa.
If the passport of a traveler from a high-risk country indicates that they spent 10 days or more in a low-risk country before departure, they must come from a low-risk country.
While business travelers from high-risk countries will be allowed into the country, leisure travelers from high-risk countries will be allowed.
Interior Minister Aaron Motsoaledi noted that the Home Office was extending the validity of expired visas until January 31, 2021.
With regard to airlines in high-risk countries, Pandor stated that they are “necessarily prohibited, but that their crews will be forced to isolate themselves in services in designated accommodation at the expense of the employer. “
Crew adjustments will be allowed for team members arriving on shipping ships, however, luxury ocean liners still cannot dock and disembark passengers.
As for travellers living in cross-border spaces or locations and those in neighbouring countries, adding those with adequate paint permits, schoolchildren and teachers, Pandor said they “will be allowed to enter and leave borders for professional purposes. “
Pandor said the rules will be reviewed every two weeks based on epidemiological knowledge from South Africa and around the world.
Pandor recalled that he should continue to respect physical distance and hygiene practices. He said that in the interest of “all citizens and ongoing public fitness efforts, South Africa reserves the right to deny access to any traveler traveling from a country of high risk to tourism. “purposes. ” DM/MC
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This list of countries is up to date. He replaced overnight.
What is the logic of having a “threat categorization” as well as insistence on a negative PCR test?This deserves to be the prospective infectiousness of an incoming individual that the number of Instances of Covid19 in their home country over decisions on access to SA deserves to be based. Why not let someone in with an existing negativity regardless of their country of origin?Will the ANC once return looking to damage Western Cape’s tourism industry?Moreover, what is the point of using the prevalence of Covid19 in South Africa as a benchmark where the threat point in other countries is judged when the prevalence of AS is a moving target?
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