Ethiopia: Authorities maintaining COVID-19-related international travel and domestic restrictions as of Nov. 8 /update 18

Event

As of Nov. 8, COVID-19-related restrictions in effect in Ethiopia remain largely unchanged by comparison with those in place during early August.

International Travel Restrictions
All incoming travelers are required to produce a digital negative COVID-19 test result at all ports of entry based on the African Union's Trust Guidelines and the UN-sponsored Global Haven Program. Travelers leaving Ethiopia must present a negative COVID-19 test result with Trusted Travel (TT) codes that can be verified by airlines and health authorities. As of Nov. 8, British nationals departing Ethiopia for the UK are temporarily exempt from taking the pre-departure COVID-19 test; the measure follows a recent message by the UK government advising its nationals to consider leaving the country due to the ongoing war between various rebel groups and federal government forces.

International ports of entry, including Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) and land border crossings, are open but operating at reduced levels. Heightened screenings are in effect. Travelers will be permitted entry if they have a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken no more than 120 hours before departure. Arrivals must then complete a seven-day mandatory self-quarantine period. Passengers with transit layovers of more than 24 hours will be taken to a designated transit hotel, where they must remain pending onward travel. Diplomats are not required to provide evidence of negative testing; however, they are expected to observe up to 14 days of self-isolation.

Domestic Measures
Public gatherings are limited to a maximum of 50 people. Individuals are required to wear facemasks in public; penalties will be applied for noncompliance. Places of worship, bars, sporting events, funerals, and cinemas are allowed to operate, albeit with certain health precautions in place.

Regional states such as Oromia, Amhara, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) have also imposed local restrictions, though specific details of these directives are unclear. Additional security and travel restrictions are almost certain in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions due to hostilities between the regional and federal governments.

Federal and regional authorities could announce additional restrictions in the coming weeks depending on disease activity. Further measures may be implemented at short notice.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Ministry of Health - Ethiopia