COVID-19 Pandemic Notice No. 8, Tuesday, 28 July 2020: Revised Screening at International Airports and Entry Procedures into Zambia

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Microscopic view of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Washington D.C. — This serves to inform Zambian nationals and clients in the United States of America (USA) and countries of extra accreditation that the Government of the Republic of Zambia in responding to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic has issued revised guidelines which took effect Monday July 27 2020.

In light of the reopening of the four international airports – Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe in Ndola, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula in Livingstone and Mfuwe in Mambwe District as guided by the Presidential directive of 25 June 2020, the following shall apply:

  1. Documentation
    Travelers’ Health Questionnaires will be provided through the office of the Airport Manager, to all airlines entering Zambia. These will be pre-filled on board the aircraft. After disembarkation, these forms will be surrendered to health staff at the airport for review. Staff will review travelers’ cards and check completeness of entries on the Travelers’ Health Questionnaires focusing on contact details such as address and telephone numbers.
  2. Entry Screening
    Entry screening will be conducted at all airports. All travelers entering the airport will be subjected to temperature and symptom screening.
  3. Testing
    All travelers coming into the country through the four international airports will be required to provide a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result. The test should have been conducted within the previous 14 days. Travelers not meeting this requirement will NOT BE allowed into the country. Quality Assurance testing for SARS-CoV-2 using nucleic acid-based testing platform may be conducted on randomly selected passengers presenting these negative results.
  4. Symptomatic Travelers
    The following passengers will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 at the airport:
    1. All passengers with a body temperature equal to or above 38 degrees Celsius.
    2. All passengers with a body temperature equal to or above 38 degrees Celsius and with any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, sore-throat and headache will be quarantined in specific institutions designated by the Ministry of Health until their results are ready.
    3. Travelers who test positive will be managed according to the National Case Management Guidelines.
    4. Travelers without fever but with symptoms will be assessed to determine the need for testing.
  5. Returning residents and citizens with symptoms
    All Zambian nationals and returning residents who do not have symptoms will observe a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their homes. Should their homes not be suitable for home-quarantine (established after inspection), they will quarantine in designated facilities. They shall monitor themselves daily for development of COVID-19 symptoms and report any such signs to the nearest health authority.
  6. Business Travelers
    1. Business travelers entering the country with a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test are free to conduct their business as planned while adhering to recommended preventive measures such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and personal hygiene.
    2. Business travelers coming into the country without evidence of a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test will not be allowed into the country.
  7. Tourists coming into the country WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF NEGATIVE SARS-CoV-2 PCR TEST WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTRY.
  8. Please note that the guidelines will be implemented taking due consideration of the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in respect of the Diplomatic Corps.

For further information or emergencies, kindly contact the following:

For all other COVID-19 related matters, you are advised to follow the advisories as updated on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website https://www.coronavirus.gov and the Zambian Embassy in Washington D.C. on the web at  www.zambiaembassy.org, on Twitter at @ZambiainUSA and Facebook at Embassy of the Republic of Zambia for latest updates.