update (11 January 2022): According to a tweet by the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the member states of the European Union (EU) have agreed on 10 January 2022 at a Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) meeting to lift the emergency break to allow air travel to resume with southern African countries. Travellers from this area will still be subject to the health measures applicable to travellers from third countries.
update (28 November 2021): Denmark has temporarily banned non-essential travel to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini.
Greece has restricted travelers from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi to only those with essential reasons and after negative testing. All travelers from these countries will undergo a second test upon their arrival to the country and will be quarantined for 10 days.
Italy is banning entry to those who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the past 14 days.
Spain is restricting flights from South Africa and Botswana.
Switzerland has banned direct flights from South Africa and the surrounding region (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe).
update (27 November 2021): All 27 member states of the European Union agreed on 26 November 2021 to temporarily suspend travel from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini. over the outbreak of a new coronavirus variant. This ban should remain in place "until we have a clear understanding about the danger posed by this new variant," European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a press release.
update (26 November 2021): Malta is to ban travel to and from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The ban becomes effective at midnight on 27 November 2021.
Croatia is planning to ban arrivals from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Eswatini.
update (26 November 2021): The Netherlands have halted flights from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
In France, authorities have temporarily suspended flights from Southern Africa for 48 hours.
Austria has issued an entry ban on flights from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Eswatini. The ban becomes effective at midnight today (26 November 2021). Citizens of Austria returning from these countries are allowed to enter Austria, but have to provide a PCR test result, register with the authorities and quarantine for ten days. Austria categorizes South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Eswatini as virus variant areas.
update (26 November 2021): Italy has imposed an entry ban on people who have visited South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Eswatini in the last 14 days. The Czech Republic's ban will begin on 27 November 2021 and will apply to third country citizens who spent more than 12 hours in the past 14 days in Southern Africa. The travel ban also includes Zambia.
The President of the European Commission*, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced that the European Commission will propose a travel ban from Southern Africa follwing the detection of a new Covid-19 variant, B.1.1.529, in South Africa that is feared to be the worst Covid-19 variant yet identified. According to a tweet by Mrs. von der Leyen, the European Commission "will propose, in close coordination with member states, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529." We'll keep you posted!
*The European Commission (EC) is the executive branch of the European Union (EU).
