Subject: EVD Travel Restrictions
From: Sarah Dedic <[email-masked]>
To: All IHD Field <[email-masked]>, All IHD US <[email-masked]>, All IEG <[email-masked]>
Cc: David Rolph <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:00:49 +0000

The CDC and the Department of Homeland Security have announced that Mali will no longer be on the list of Ebola-affected countries whose US-bound travelers are subject to enhanced visa and port-of-entry screening. However, travelers who entered the US from Mali before January 6 must continue active monitoring and report any potential symptoms of Ebola virus disease for up to 21 days from the date they left Mali.

Below is an updated list of land border closures and visa/entry restrictions in regard to the EVD outbreak.

Africa

·         Botswana announced a travel ban on 12 August for all non-Botswana citizens travelling from   Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The travel restrictions were extended on 25 August to cover Congo (DRC).

·         Cameroon reopened its borders on 17 September to travelers from Senegal and on 31 October reopened them to travelers from Nigeria. An 18 August ban remains in place on travel from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

·         Cape Verde on 9 October announced that it would now deny entry to non-resident foreigners coming from countries with ‘intense Ebola transmission' – Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia - or who have been to those countries in the previous 30 days.

·         Chad on 21 August closed its land border with Nigeria at Lake Chad. The country previously reportedly banned the entry of any travelers originating or transiting through Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria or Sierra Leone, with airlines serving the country reportedly rerouting flights.

·         Côte d'Ivoire in early October reopened its borders with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, having closed the borders of 23 August.

·         Equatorial Guinea is denying entry to travelers whose journeys originated in countries affected by Ebola.

·         Gabon stated on 22 August that it is restricting the issuance of entry visas to travelers from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria on a case-by-case basis.

·         Gambia said on 11 November that it was reopening its borders to travelers from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone .

·         Guinea-Bissau reopened its land border with Guinea on 9 December. The border has been closed since 12 August.

·         Kenya on 10 October announced that it had closed the Suam border crossing (Trans-Nzoia county) with Uganda due to reports of an Ebola-related death in Bukwo district (Uganda). Earlier, the Kenyan authorities on 19 August suspended entry of passengers travelling from and through Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, excluding health professionals supporting efforts to contain the outbreak and Kenyan citizens.

·         Mauritania on 25 October closed its border with neighboring Mali after an Ebola-related death in the border town of Kayes (Mali).

·         Mauritius on 8 October banned entry to all travelers who have visited Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Congo (DRC) in the last two months, rather than just citizens of those countries, as was the case previously. The authorities have announced that entry restrictions for travelers from Senegal and Nigeria will be lifted on 10 October and 17 October respectively, if no further cases of Ebola infection are reported.

·         Namibia's foreign ministry on 11 September announced that foreigners travelling from countries affected by Ebola would be prohibited from entering the country.

·         Rwanda has banned entry to travelers who have visited Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in the 22 days prior to travel.

·         Senegal on 14 November reopened its air and sea borders with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, the country's land borders with Guinea remain closed.

·         Seychelles has removed entry restrictions on travelers from Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria. Entry for travelers who have visited Congo (DRC), Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone 28 days prior to their journey, with the exception of Seychellois citizens, was suspended 8 October and remains suspended.

·         Sierra Leone’s government has extended an ongoing lockdown in Tonkolili district (Northern province) until 17 January in an effort to control the spread of the Ebola virus. The restriction was initially imposed on 1 December when officials sealed the borders of the district and started conducting door-to-door awareness campaign within the area. Visitors are not allowed into the district, though vehicles passing through it will be permitted to enter, provided they do not stop anywhere in Tonkolili.

·         Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states – Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – have stated that travelers coming from Ebola-affected countries (according to the World Health Organization [WHO]) would be monitored for 21 days and that travel to member countries for any gatherings would be discouraged. The SADC provided no details as to how member countries will carry out the associated screening and follow-up and it is likely that countries will have individual processes. There are also reports that some countries require health documentation for entry. Travelers are advised to contact the embassy or health ministry of their destination country to clarify their individual circumstances and prepare their trips accordingly.

·         South Africa on 21 August restricted entry for all non-citizens travelling from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The government subsequently clarified that this was not a blanket ban and could be waived for 'absolutely essential travel'.

·         South Sudan has placed a ban on travelers coming from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia or Congo (DRC), or those who have travelled to those countries in the preceding 21 days. According to the health ministry, entry of travelers from Nigeria depends on their travel history in that country and whether they have visited Ebola-affected areas.

Americas

·         Antigua and Barbuda on 17 October imposed an entry ban on nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The ban will also apply on anyone who travels to the country within 21 days of visiting any of the aforementioned nations.

·         Belize announced on 18 October that it will stop issuing visas for nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. Sierra Leone nationals, who do not need visas to enter Belize, will also be banned. In addition, travelers who have visited any of the aforementioned countries in the past 30 days will be prohibited from entering the country.

·         Canada the authorities on 31 October suspended the issuance of visas to travelers who have recently visited West African countries affected by the Ebola virus. The action covers those who have travelled to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past three months.

·         Colombia imposed an entry ban from 14 October on any traveler who has visited Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal or Sierra Leone in the past four weeks. The restriction would also reportedly apply to Colombian nationals.

·         The Dominican Republic has banned entry to travelers who have been in the following countries in the past 30 days: Sierra Leone, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria, as well as any countries that the World Health Organization has deemed to be affected by the Ebola virus.

·         Guyana announced on 16 October that visas will not be issued to nationals from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Furthermore, health officials will screen travelers who have visited these countries in the six weeks prior to their arrival in Guyana.

·         Haiti has banned (PDF) entry to travelers who have been to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone in the past 28 days. Travelers who have been to these countries more than 28 days before travel to Haiti must present a government-certified health certificate and the results of a blood test for the Ebola virus upon arrival. It is uncertain at this time how these measures will be carried out or enforced.

·         Jamaica imposed an entry ban from 16 October for travelers arriving from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as those who have visited these countries within the four weeks prior to their arrival. In addition, any Jamaican national who travels to the aforementioned countries will be quarantined for 28 days on return.

·         Panama on 22 October banned the entry of travelers who have visited Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past 21 days. The ban will remain in place until the three countries are declared Ebola-free.

·         St Kitts and Nevis have restricted the entry of nationals from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Similar measures will also be applied to travelers who have visited these countries in the 21 days prior to arrival.

·         St Lucia has banned visitors from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The government has also announced that, in addition to a visa, visitors from Nigeria will be required to present a recent medical certificate clearing them of the virus. No further details are available at this stage, though we are investigating further.

·         St Maarten has said that visitors who have travelled to, from or through Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past 21 days will be denied to enter or transit the country. Individuals returning from the above countries who live in St Maarten will be allowed to enter on condition that they agree to be quarantined for at least 21 days upon arrival.

·         St Vincent and the Grenadines has banned visitors from Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

·         Suriname has banned entry to foreign travelers who have been to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the past 21 days, unless they can present an ‘internationally recognized health certificate’ clearing them of the virus. No further details are available at this time.

·         Trinidad and Tobago announced on 16 October that it would deny entry to nationals of Congo (DRC), Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. In addition, travelers who have visited any of the aforementioned countries in the past six weeks will be quarantined for 21 days upon arrival.

·         The United States has announced that health screening restrictions for travelers from Mali will be lifted from 6 January. Restrictions remain in place for travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Passengers beginning their travels in Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone will only be able to enter the country through the following airports: JFK International Airport (JFK, New York state), Newark International Airport (EWR, New Jersey), Dulles International Airport (IAD, Washington, DC), Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL, Georgia) or Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, Illinois). In addition, all travelers from these countries will be actively monitored for 21 days by public health authorities.

Elsewhere

·         Australia has suspended the issuance of visas to travellers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Travelers from these countries who hold permanent visas can enter Australia if they have been quarantined for 21 days prior to arrival, while those who have received non-permanent visas and who have not departed for Australia will have their visas cancelled.

·         North Korea has banned foreign tourists since 24 October over fears of Ebola; the ban applies to all entry points and border crossings. All other visitors will reportedly be required to spend 21 days in government-supervised quarantine, regardless of their country of origin or point of departure.

·         Singapore: The authorities have announced that from 5 November onwards nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will require visas to enter the country. The government also said that nationals of the three countries, as well as citizens of Congo (DRC) and Mali, will be screened for fever at all entry points. Other travelers who have visited these countries recently will also be screened.

Sarah Dedic | Security Analyst | Abt Associates

O: 301.347. 5834| [email-masked]