Coronavirus pandemic: eSwatini to close its ports of entry for travel!

The Kingdom of eSwatini is set to introduce a 20-day partial lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Effective 27 March 2020, people in eSwatini will not be allowed to leave their homes except to buy food, medical supplies, make use of banking services or seek medical attention. Non-essential travel between towns, cities and regions in eSwatini is also not permitted, except for medical reasons or to provide or acquire essential services. The army and the police will be deployed to ensure compliance with all these measures. Chiefs and traditional authorities will take a leading role in enforcing these measures in their communities.
Following the announcement by the South African Government of a lockdown, only goods and cargo as well as returning citizens and legal residents will be allowed to enter eSwatini through the country's border crossing points. Returning citizens and residents of eSwatini will be subjected to a mandatory 14 days quarantine at designated locations except for those who are able to self-isolate. Foreign nationals coming from "high-risk countries are already restricted from entering eSwatini until further notice since eSwatini declared National Emergency in response to the coronavirus panedemic on 17 March 2020.

Coronavirus pandemic: Botswana closes all its ports of entry for travel!

The Government of Botswana has closed all border crossing points with immeditate effect due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Batswana and permanent residents in Botswana will be allowed to return home, but must undergo mandatory 14 day quarantine. The movement of people such as visiting neighbouring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland is restricted with the exception of the movement of goods and services. The closures will remain in place until further notice. Botswana has also banned the travel to and from high-risk countries (as of 25 March 2020: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Chechnya, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Iran, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America).

Coronavirus pandemic: Namibia closes several ports of entry for travel!

Namibia's Cabinet has decided to further strengthens its measures to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The travel ban, which previously only affected citizens from affected countries, namely Schengen States, China, Iran, Korea, United Kingdom, United States of America and Japan, is now extended to all countries around the World for a period of thirty days and applies to all Namibians and permanent residents. All returning Namibians and Permanent residents of Namibia and Permanent residents arriving from high-risk countries are subjected to mandatory supervised quarantine for 14 days, at own cost. Internal travel restrictions will apply with respect to the Khomas region and the Erongo region, for a period of 21 days starting on 27 March 2020 and ending on 16 April 2020. As part of the new measures, Namibia has also closed the following ports of entry for travel:

• Oshikango (Angola)
• Katwitwi (Angola)
• Wenela (Zambia)
• Buitepos (Botswana)
• Ariamsvlei (South Africa)
• Noordoewer (South Africa)
• Luderitz (sea)
• Walvis Bay (sea)

Regarding trade, special exemptions will apply: "Special dispensation applies to business, commerce and trade missions and activities only from neighboring countries, on a reciprocal basis, to facilitate the flow of supplies, goods, commodities and services into Namibia."

Coronavirus pandemic: Zimbabwe has closed all borders for non-essential traffic!

The Government of Zimbabwe has with immediate effect closed all its point of entries for both inbound and outbound traffic due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The borders only remain open for essential traffic, such as cargo, while non-essential traffic, such as travel, is banned until further notice. All returning residents of Zimbabwe are subjected to strict screening procedures, including rigorous enforcement of the 21-day self-quarantine.

Coronavirus pandemic: Angola closes all borders for 15 days!

The Government of Angola has announced the closure of all its point of entries - airports, seaports and land borders - with immediate effect for 15 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. The closure is renewable for an equal period, depending on the progress of the pandemic. All international arrivals into Angola before midnight on 20 March 2020 are obliged to fill out a form for mandatory health checks and stay at home for a period of 14 days.

Coronavirus outbreak: Botswana closes 12 border posts with South Africa!

As a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the government of Botswana has closed 12 point of entries with South Africa with effect from today (16 March 2020). These include Zanzibar, Platjan, Pontdrift, Bray, Makopong, McCarthy's Rest, Middlepits, Sikwane/Derdepoort, Ramotswa/Swartkopfontein, Phitshane Molope/Makgobistadt, Parrs Halt(Stockpoort and Twee Rivieren. Only the following border crossings are currently open: Tlokweng/Kopfontein, Pioneer Gate/Skilpadshek, Ramatlabama and Martin's Drift/Groblerbrug. We'll keep you posted!

Coronavirus outbreak: Lesotho has closed nine ports of entry!

As an precaution against the spread of the coronavirus, the government of Lesotho has closed nine ports of entry. These include the following border crossings: Ramatsiliso Gate, Ongeluksnek, Tele Bridge (Eastern Cape), Makhaleng Bridge, Peka Bridge, Monontsa Pass, Sephaphis/Sepapus Gate (Freestate), Sani Pass and Boesmansnek (KwaZulu-Natal). The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (Visit Lesotho) advises travellers intending to visit Lesotho to make use of other ports of entry, such as Caledonspoort, Maputsoe/Ficksburg Bridge, Maseru Bridge, Quacha's Nek and Van Rooyens Gate.

Coronavirus outbreak: South Africa to close borders to all citizens from high-risk countries!

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared the Coronavirus outbreak a national disaster and announced a raft of unprecedented interventions to curb the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa. These include the closing of 35 ports of entry and imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from countries hardest hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. The travel ban will be imposed from 18 March 2020 on foreign citizens who come from Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, United States, Germany, United Kingdom and China. Additionally, any foreign national who has visited any of the high risk countries in the past 20 days will be denied a visa. South African citizens returning from these countries will be subjected to testing and self-isolation or quarantine on return. Travellers from medium risk countries such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore will be required to undergo high intensity screening. All travellers who have entered South Africa from high risk countries since mid-February will be required to hand themselves over for testing. We'll keep you updated!