Equatorial Guinea: Authorities maintain COVID-19 restrictions as of Jan. 6 /update 12

Event

As of Jan. 6, authorities in Equatorial Guinea maintain restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

International Travel
International travel has resumed, and nationals, residents, diplomats, businesses, and those who have received government approval are permitted to travel. Several requirements are in place, including the following:

All arriving passengers must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival, taken no longer than 48 hours prior. If a negative test is not provided, authorities will send travelers to a mandatory government quarantine center to quarantine for 14 days.
All arriving passengers are also required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test upon arrival.
All travelers are required to quarantine for five days, regardless of negative PCR or COVID-19 test results. Travelers will then be required to take a second test once the five days have passed.
Those who test negative after the second test will be free to leave quarantine; however, those who test positive will be transferred to a health center, allocated by the government, and will be required to quarantine for a further 14 days.
Diplomatic and international organizations must submit a list of names and contact details to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation before arrival.
Authorities may withdraw passports from passengers if an invalid PCR test is presented; however, this mandate is not strictly enforced.
All travelers from the UK remain prohibited from entering the country until further notice.
Land borders remain closed until further notice, except for government and diplomatic vehicles; however, sea borders are open.

Domestic Measures

Domestic flights have resumed; however, flights between Malabo and the mainland are limited to one per day.
Inter-district and inter-city travel remains prohibited until further notice; however, internal flights to Bata Airport (BSG) require written authorization from the technical committee to travel between regions. Passengers are also required to present a negative PCR test taken no longer than 48 hours prior to travel.
Markets, places of worship, and cultural events have resumed operations nationwide. Sporting leagues, public parks, bars, street makers, and casinos have resumed operations as well; however, they may only operate at 50-percent capacity. Other mass gatherings remain prohibited.
The hotel industry is operating.
Protective facemasks are compulsory in public places.
Schools are reopening; classes resumed from Sept. 1 at 50-percent capacity.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks. Fines for noncompliance to the outlines restrictions will be issued.

Context

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV). Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sometimes worsening to pneumonia and kidney failure - especially in those with underlying medical conditions. The WHO declared the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic March 11.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Carry proper identification documents to present at security checks. Heed all official advisories and remain non-confrontational if stopped by authorities. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays and possibly result in quarantine. Carry proper identification documents to present at security checks.

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.