Location:  Botswana

Event:  There is an ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, China.  The global public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, with more than 100,000 reported cases worldwide. 

The government of Botswana has implemented enhanced screening at ports of entry in response to the global public health threat posed by COVID-19.  Travelers should be prepared for additional travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.

The Government of Botswana may require all travelers from locations with COVID-19 “local transmission” to isolate themselves for 14 days following their entry into Botswana.  Botswana determines these locations using daily World Health Organization situation reports. 

Individuals arriving in Botswana within the past two weeks from one or more of these countries may be contacted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and asked to self-isolate.  The following is an example of what a self-isolation of a healthy person would involve: Stay home, practice social distancing (maintaining more than 1-meter space), sleep in a separate room, and use a separate bathroom if possible. Minimize direct contact with other people. Sanitize surfaces with disinfectants. Take your temperature twice a day and report any fever, cough, or respiratory symptoms immediately.  This will be monitored by the local health authorities.

Individuals who demonstrate specific symptoms related to COVID-19 should call their health care provider or the MoHW Emergency Operations line at 363-2273/2756/2757 for further instructions. 

The U.S. Embassy has restricted all official travel outside of Botswana to mission critical purposes.  There are currently no restrictions on travel inside Botswana for Embassy personnel.  The U.S. Embassy has advised all official government visitors traveling from the United Stated to delay travel unless mission critical.

Travelers should be prepared for additional travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.

Actions to Take:

·         Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.  

·         For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.  

• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
• Check with your airlines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.

·         Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Botswana

·         Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S. 

Assistance:

·         U.S. Embassy Gaborone, Botswana

Embassy Drive

Government Enclave

Gaborone, Botswana
(+267) 373-2322
ConsularGaborone@state.gov
https://bw.usembassy.gov/

·         State Department - Consular Affairs

888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

·         Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.

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