THE Federal Government has added travellers from South Africa to its list of blacklisted nations due to the coronavirus.
The FG also extended the existing ban on travellers from Brazil, India and Turkey over the rising Covid-19 cases in those countries by one month.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, said this today in Abuja at the national briefing of the committee.
Recall that the FG had in May barred travellers from Brazil, India and Turkey due to rising Covid-19 cases in those countries, saying that they ban shall be subjected to review after an initial period of four weeks.
The SGF who said that the PSC has been reviewing these restrictions and is of the opinion that they should remain for another four weeks before it is further reviewed, also said that South Africa, has however, been added to this category once more.
“A few weeks ago, we announced additional measures to be met by passengers arriving from Brazil, Turkey and India. This action was due to the prevalence of variants of concern and the dangers associated with importation of the such virulent strain.
“The PSC has been reviewing these restrictions and is of the opinion that they should remain for another four weeks (one months) before it is further reviewed. South Africa, has however, been added to this category once more,” Mustapha said.
While noting that the PSC has been monitoring global developments on Covid-19 with particular focus on variants of concern, he said that government has escalated surveillance and risk communication.
He added that the PSC has similarly paid close attention to the issue of vaccination, especially matters relating to access and acquisition of vaccines.
“The PSC wishes to encourage members of the public not to lower their guards yet because we continue to see spikes in some countries (including African countries) and the emergence of variants of concern in several jurisdictions where the third wave has occurred,” he said.
