Brazil’s health regulator urges government to review restrictions on travelers from 6 African countries

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) on Friday, January 7, advised the federal government’s Interministerial Committee that travelers who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe in the past 14 days should be subject to the same measures defined for other countries.

The procedures recommended by the agency are contained in a government ordinance published in December last year.

The ordinance allows the entry of international passengers, Brazilians or foreigners, provided the following procedures are observed: before boarding, a negative result from a Covid test performed up to 72 hours before the trip, completion of the Traveler’s Health Declaration (DSV) and proof of vaccination against the disease.

If the passenger is not immunized, he/she must undergo a 5-day quarantine after landing in Brazil. On the 5th day, the traveler will undergo an RT-PCR test and, if negative, will be cleared from isolation. The Center for Strategic Health Information (CIEVS) of each region will be in charge of monitoring.

ANVISA requested restrictions for African countries on November 26, after the new strain was identified. At the time, the agency called for the immediate suspension of flights from these countries and also a ban on passengers who had passed through them in the 14 days before the measure was implemented.