Botswana on Saturday introduced new COVID-19 requirements at its ports of entry for the purposes of reducing the risk of imported COVID-19 cases into the country.
The new measures will come into effect next week, Friday 14th, a press statement from the government said while outlining the new conditions.
First and foremost, all persons entering Botswana should show proof that they’ve been fully vaccinated. This means that they have taken two doses of vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
In the instance that a person is not fully vaccinated, they will be required to present a 72-hour negative PCR COVID-19 test result and undergo COVID-19 vaccination at the port of entry. Only after vaccination, they will be allowed into the country.
Alternatively, if one has no proof of being vaccinated and has no 72-hour negative PCR test result, they will be required to go through PCR testing at the port of entry, at their own cost, and where necessary, quarantine at their own cost.
The government of Botswana also said that if one has no proof of being vaccinated, is not willing to be vaccinated at the port of entry, has no negative PCR test result and is not willing to be tested at their own cost, they will not be allowed to entry into Botswana if they are foreigners. However, if they are citizens, they will be liable to a fine of up to P5000.00 or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.
According to the statement, full vaccination will be the most important requirement for entry into Botswana.
