Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Gaborone, Botswana (6/5/2020)
Location: Botswana
Event: No Flights Available, New South Africa Transit Regulations Announced
There are still no plans to resume commercial flight operations out of Botswana. Ethiopian Airlines flight 8828 departed Gaborone on June 3, 2020, and there are no upcoming flights scheduled.
In addition, the Republic of South Africa has announced a change in policy on June 2, 2020 that requires any foreign nationals transiting South Africa for repatriation flights to undergo a 14-day quarantine after entering the country by charter flight only. No land crossings for repatriation flights out of Johannesburg are allowed until further notice.
If you are interested in departing Botswana, you can still register your interest with the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone using the following link:
Botswana Repatriation Request Form
If you are travelling with others, you must complete the form for each person in your group. Entering your data into this form will add you to a list to get separate emails with flight information and logistics. If you have already completed this form, please do not complete it again. If you have previously completed the form and no longer wish to depart Botswana, please contact us at ConsularGaborone@state.gov so we can remove you from the list.
Repatriation requests can also be made through our website at https://bw.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/.
Everyone who has registered using this form will receive further details on any possible upcoming flights via email using the contact addresses provided in the form.
If you are traveling from other zones in Botswana to Gaborone for a flight, you will need to secure a movement permit from the Government of Botswana at https://www.gov.bw/.
Those traveling within their zone of residence no longer require movement permits.
In the meantime, please do not forget to register in STEP for the latest alerts and information from the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone at https://step.state.gov.
If you are looking for the latest announcements, the best place to find the updates, lists, regulations, and maps is at https://twitter.com/BWGovernment.
Since the outbreak there have been 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Botswana. The number continues to rise slowly. If the threat exceeds the current level at any point, stricter rules may be put back in place. Please continue to check the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Facebook page and https://twitter.com/BWGovernment for the latest information.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC websitefor 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.govfor the latest information.
- Check with your airlines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19for information on conditions in Botswana.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
- Visit the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Facebook pagefor latest travel restrictions.
- Call 997 for instructions from the Government of Botswana if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19.
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.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter