Travellers unvaccinated against Covid-19 or travellers partially vaccinated against Covid-19 intending to visit Botswana are no longer required to undergo immediate Covid-19 testing at the country's ports of entry. This means that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers now only require a 72 hour negative PCR test result to be allowed entry into Botswana. However, anyone presenting themselves at a port of entry into Botswana, without the requisite documents (Covid-19 vaccindation card or 72 hour negative PCR test result), is getting tested on arrival, at own cost and if positive, isolated for five days within the district of the port of entry. The new regulation becomes effective today (02 August 2022). Also from today (02 August 2022), wearing of marks in outdoor areas in Botswana is no longer mandatory. It has also been decided that from today (02 August 2022) there will no longer be isolation of positive cases, unless if such isolation has been prescribed by a physician or medical doctor. [src.]
02 August 2022
Covid-19: Botswana eases regulations on entry and mask-wearing!
23 June 2022
Covid-19: South Africa repeals regulations on mask-wearing, gatherings & entry!
South Africa has repealed Covid-19 regulations on mask-wearing, gatherings and Covid-19 tests for incoming overseas travellers. The country's Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, signed a document on 22 June 2022 lifting sections 16A ("wearing of masks indoors), 16B ("limitations of gatherings") and 16C ("vaccination proof or PCR negative tests at Ports of Entry") of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions made under South Africa's National Health Act.
Minister Phaahla said the Department of Health has been working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NIDC) on monitoring the epidemic. As of mid-June 2022, the critical indicators showed:
- decline in daily cases
- decline in hospitalization
- decline in positivity rate
- decline in reproductive number
- decline in reported deaths
On this basis, the Department of Health approached the National Coronvirus Command Council (NCCC) and the National Health Council with a proposal to repeal the regulations 16A, 16B and 16C.
