international travel - The African Mirror

Nov

2020

South Africa eases restrictions on international travel, alcohol sales

SOUTH Africa will open up travel to all countries in an effort to boost the tourism and hospitality sectors, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced, despite having the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the continent. Africa's most advanced economy, which has recorded more than 740,000 COVID-19 cases and over 20,000 deaths, has seen infections rise since it eased lockdown restrictions in September to their lowest levels. Ramaphosa, in a televised national address, said normal trading hours of alcohol would be restored too, after sales were restricted on weekends in an effort to reduce pressure on hospitals due to alcohol-related…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa opens its borders to international travel, cautions of new COVID-19 surge

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH Africa is to open its borders to international travelers, relax restrictions on alcohol sales but warned of a resurgence of COVID-19. SA president Cyril Ramaphosa, in an address to the nation, said international travel would be subject to strict COVID-19 protocols. He said the state of national disaster, declared in response to COVID-19, has been extended to January 15. He also announced that South Africa would embark on five days of mourning - November 25 to 29 - for those who died of COVID-19 and gender-based violence. Ramaphosa said while South African has made impressive progress…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Namibia to allow international travel, lift COVID state of emergency

COVID-19

THE Namibian government has announced that it will open up the country for international travel from September 18, as it ends a six-month-long state of emergency with the average number of daily coronavirus cases trending downwards. President Hage Geingob, during a media briefing, said the government had considered the economic implications of continuing the restrictions and the state of preparedness of its hospitals. The announcement comes a day after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country would allow international travel from October and lifted almost all lockdown restrictions with effect from September 21. Namibia's economy which relies heavily on…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

S.Africa tourism sector cautiously hopeful as borders set to reopen

COVID-19

WENDELL ROELF SOUTH Africa's pandemic-battered tourism sector on Thursday welcomed a government decision to allow international travel from October 1 but officials worried restrictions on key markets facing high infection rates could curtail any recovery. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday eased lockdown restrictions, among the world's strictest at the height of South Africa's outbreak, in a bid to revive the economy. Uncertainty over still unpublished travel regulations however, is tempering hopes of a quick recovery for the tourism sector, which contributes nearly 9% of GDP but has been devastated by massive job losses and business closures. "If we do not…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Namibia opens airports and schools but extends overnight curfew

COVID-19

NAMIBIA will lift lockdown restrictions, allowing international travel, schools to reopen and onsite alcohol consumption from September, President Hage Geingob has announced, but he extended an overnight curfew as Covid-19 cases continue to rise. The southern African country of two million now has 6,906 confirmed COVID-19 cases and the disease is not yet contained -- of its 65 deaths, 55 were in August alone. But as with other southern African nations, leaders are weighing the impact of the virus against the huge economic and social damage done by lockdowns. "The virus is likely to remain in our midst for a…