Coronavirus: Nigeria  Places Travel Ban on US, UK China, Italy, 9 Others

The Federal Government has announced entry restrictions on travellers from the United States of America, United Kingdom, China and 10 others with over 1,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.

The Presidential Task Force on coronavirus led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stated this as part of measures to safeguard the nation.

Other nation’s affected by the restrictions include Japan, Spain, France, Germany, Netherland, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Iran and South Korea.

The task force said travellers from these nations would be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days.

• STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE PTF ON COVlD-19 0N MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY NIGERIA TO CONTAIN AND MANAGETHE PANDEMIC

Gentlemen of the Press,

You will recall that yesterday Tuesday 17‘h March, 2020 the Presidential Task Force on COVlD-19 set up by Mr. President was inaugurated and held its first briefing.

2. You will also recall that the PTF at the end of the meeting announced the ban on all forms of travels by public officers and civil servants until further notice,
3. This morning, we have found it necessary to brief Nigerians on further measures being taken after an assessment of the global situation. They are as follows:
4. The Federal Government of Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travellers from the following thirteen (13) countries; China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland. These are all countries with over 1,000 case domestically;
5. All persons arriving in Nigeria who might have visited these countries, fifteen days prior to such arrival, will be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days;

iii. Federal Government is temporarily suspending the issuance of all visas on arrival;

1. The Federal Government is also counseling all Nigerians to cancel or postpone all non-essential travels to these countries; and
2. The Federal Government urges Public Health Authorities of countries with high burden to conduct diligent departure screening of passengers and also endorses this travel advisories to their nationals to postpone travels to Nigeria.
3. These restrictions will come into effect from Saturday, 21st March, 2020 for four (4) weeks subject to review.