Botswana imposes quarantine for travellers from India
Botswana imposes a 10 day quarantine for people travelling from India, following the emergence and predominance of the B.1.617 variant India.
RUSTENBURG, May 6 (ANA) – Botswana has imposed a 10-day quarantine for people travelling from India, the country said in a public notice on entry requirement to Botswana from Covid-19 high burden areas.
“Following the emergence and predominance of the B.1.617 variant in the Republic of India, all travellers originating from or transiting through India within 14 days, will be required to undertake a mandatory quarantine at a site selected by the ministry of health and wellness, for a period not exceeding 10 days at their own cost with immediate effect,” co-ordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Kereng Masupa said in a notice published on Wednesday.
Travellers would also be required to undertake an exit Covid-19 test from day five to seven, to determined whether they should be released from quarantine.
Masupa said travellers entering Botswana, have to present a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin at the point of entry.
Travellers may further be required at their own cost to take immediate Covid-19 testing and isolation or quarantine at a site selected by the ministry of health and wellness.
Several countries have closed their borders to travellers from India, for fear of importing the new variant.
India has recorded over 21 million cases, the death toll is over 233,000 and recoveries stood at over 17 million.
The country recorded 397, 462 news cases and 3,618 new Covid-19 related deaths on Thursday.
Botswana recorded 10 new Covid-19 related deaths on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 734.
The country recorded 566 new cases taking the total confirmed cases to 48,417 and 46,226 recoveries, 49 959 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay