Niger: Authorities to allow international flights as of August 1 /update 7

Event

Authorities will allow international flights to resume as of August 1 as restrictions introduced due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are eased in Niger. As well as obligatory temperature checks at the airport, those arriving in the country must present to local authorities a negative COVID-19 test dated within the previous 72 hours. Another COVID-19 test will also be performed on arriving passengers at the airport and those who test positive will be taken to a governmental quarantine facility. Despite international flights being allowed to resume, land borders will remain closed until further notice.

Authorities have started gradually easing COVID-19 restrictions since May 12.

As of Monday, July 20, there have been 1104 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, and 69 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures: