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Some foreign nationals sent back from Ghana over COVID-19 fears

The implementation of the novel coronavirus travel protocols has so far led to the prevention of close to 20 foreign nationals from some European countries from entering Ghana in the past few days.

The government of Ghana announced new travel protocols after some imported cases of the coronavirus were recorded in the country.

Two Chinese nationals who arrived on an Emirates Flight were sent back last Tuesday, March 17 2020. Two other Italian nationals were also barred from entering Ghana after they arrived on an Air France flight.

According to the government’s new traveling measures, travelers who have been in coronavirus-hit countries with cases exceeding 200 within the last 14 days will not be allowed Ghana. Only Ghanaians and foreign nationals with residence permits are exempt from this policy.

The admissible travellers who exhibit symptoms of the virus are to be quarantined and tested upon reaching Ghana.

The government said airlines had been instructed not to allow such persons into Ghana.

In general, the government said to ‘ravel to Ghana is strongly discouraged until further notice’.

There will be a mandatory 14 days self-quarantine for persons who are otherwise allowed to enter the country.

Other nations have also been taking extreme measures as the novel coronavirus spreads beyond its epicentre in Wuhan, China,

Travellers from outside the EU are being turned away from airports and borders after the 27-country bloc began a 30-day ban to halt the spread of the virus.

More than 200,000 people have been infected worldwide with nearly 8,000 deaths.

Other travel restrictions in Africa

South Africa, one of Africa’s worst-hit countries, has imposed a travel ban on foreign nationals from “high-risk countries” including the United States, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and China starting March 18.

The Ministry of Health in Kenya earlier announced that the country was banning all travellers from countries that have reported coronavirus cases.

Source: focusnewsroom.com