Botswana will allow partially vaccinated and unvaccinated persons to enter the country on conditions they comply with testing requirements.
“For those who will be partially vaccinated, or not vaccinated at all, they will be required to present a negative 72-hour PCR test result and, in addition, undergo COVID-19 testing at the port of entry at own cost,” the government said in a notice on Friday.
“If negative, they will be allowed to proceed into the country. If positive, they will be isolated in the district of the port of entry at own cost and allowed to proceed into the country only after recovery.”
Only persons who are not fully vaccinated and unwilling to undergo a COVID-9 test upon entry will be charged and fined or taken to court.
The government also clarified its position on being fully vaccinated to not include having had a booster shot due to the “discordant periods” for taking booster shots between Botswana and other countries.
“Having completed the primary vaccine series will be considered sufficient for one to be allowed entry without the need to present a negative PCR test result.”
Authorities, however, said the removal of the need to have a booster shot as a condition for entry did not negate the importance of receiving it. They instead encouraged the public to get a booster shot as a means of keeping their immunity high against COVID-19.
