Fauci says US travel ban on South Africa should be rolled back 'as quickly as possible'

Business Insider – 06 Dec  2021

On Monday, the US restricted travel from eight countries in southern Africa due to the new variant.

• South Africa had an existing surveillance system for viral diseases that helped it detect Omicron.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Biden administration would have been criticised if a ban was not enacted.

On the latest episode of Spotify's "Science Vs." podcast, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, talked with host Wendy Zukerman about his views on the Biden administration's recent travel ban, which he said should be rolled back.

The US began to restrict travel from eight countries in southern Africa on Monday because of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, which was labeled as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation after its detection by South African scientists on 11 November.

However, the location of its initial detection does not necessarily indicate that the variant originated in South Africa. The country already had a robust surveillance system in place for tracking viral diseases and genetic mutations like HIV, Ebola, and tuberculosis, which put it in a strong position to monitor variants of Covid-19.

"When we first saw and heard about what was going on in South Africa, we really were blind. We had no idea what was going to happen. And one of the things we wanted to do, which was understandable, was to best as possible protect the American public," Fauci told Zukerman.

While Omicron's origins remain unknown, cases have been found in several countries, including the UK, US, Netherlands, and Belgium.

"We did not know it was in other countries at the time of the ban. It looked like it was just in South Africa," Fauci said. "But right now, you're right, it is out there, so it's going to spread no matter what. So that's the reason why I would feel that, hopefully, we can pull back on that ban as quickly as possible."

Still, Fauci maintained that if a ban had not been instituted, people would have been upset and "crucified" the administration for its inaction.

www.samigration.com

Fauci says US travel ban on South Africa should be rolled back 'as quickly as possible'

Business Insider – 04 Dec  2021

On Monday, the US restricted travel from eight countries in southern Africa due to the new variant.

• South Africa had an existing surveillance system for viral diseases that helped it detect Omicron.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Biden administration would have been criticised if a ban was not enacted.

On the latest episode of Spotify's "Science Vs." podcast, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, talked with host Wendy Zukerman about his views on the Biden administration's recent travel ban, which he said should be rolled back.

The US began to restrict travel from eight countries in southern Africa on Monday because of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, which was labeled as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation after its detection by South African scientists on 11 November.

However, the location of its initial detection does not necessarily indicate that the variant originated in South Africa. The country already had a robust surveillance system in place for tracking viral diseases and genetic mutations like HIV, Ebola, and tuberculosis, which put it in a strong position to monitor variants of Covid-19.

"When we first saw and heard about what was going on in South Africa, we really were blind. We had no idea what was going to happen. And one of the things we wanted to do, which was understandable, was to best as possible protect the American public," Fauci told Zukerman.

While Omicron's origins remain unknown, cases have been found in several countries, including the UK, US, Netherlands, and Belgium.

"We did not know it was in other countries at the time of the ban. It looked like it was just in South Africa," Fauci said. "But right now, you're right, it is out there, so it's going to spread no matter what. So that's the reason why I would feel that, hopefully, we can pull back on that ban as quickly as possible."

Still, Fauci maintained that if a ban had not been instituted, people would have been upset and "crucified" the administration for its inaction.

www.samigration.com

Zimbabwe - quarantine for all arrivals

Tourism Update – 2 December 2021

New restriction for entry to Zimbabwe apply to all travellers and are effective immediately.

Vaccination does not feature in the regulations.

PCR testing at Robert Mugabe International Airport (Harare), Joshua Nkomo International Airport (Bulawayo) and Victoria Falls international Airport (Vic Falls) upon arrival is now mandatory, followed by a minimum quarantine period of 10 days.

The Health Ministry says it will establish airport PCR testing laboratories, and the PCR test will be done for a nominal fee, yet to be gazetted.

“All returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing, and will be quarantined at own cost, even if they present negative PCR test results from elsewhere,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa stated in a live televised address on November 30.

Those who test negative must quarantine for 10 days at a site determined by the government, while those who test positive must quarantine for 14 days, a newly issued statutory instrument has now proclaimed.

Home quarantine is not permitted, according to a communication sent out by SAA. A list of quarantine centres will soon be published by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC).

Exemptions

PCR testing is not required for children under five years one month (61 months) old.

Travel News has had sight of a summary of the initial Cabinet briefing, which says that other exemptions to the requirement for PCR testing on arrival may only be issued by the Secretary of Health (for example, on the grounds of health or age), and there will be “official exemptions”.  These will include VIPs, diplomats and their families, envoys, and UN staff and their families. Official exemptions will have to quarantine at home.

Designated business travellers, for example those visiting the government, will be exempt from quarantine requirements (and proof thereof shall be required), said the summary.

It added that airline crew on night-stops (from airport of origin or in Zimbabwe) will be exempt. The 30-day validity period for each crew PCR HC is to be reviewed.

Concerning road transport, the summary said: “Measures for land borders remain unchanged. Essential goods drivers’ PCR HC validity is to be reviewed.”

Police to man quarantine centres

The summary said a list of quarantine centres would be published by the MOHCC. They will be lodges and hotels, who will provide transport (for the traveller’s account) to the quarantine centre hotel/lodge. Once tested, the traveller will proceed to their chosen quarantine centre, which may be pre-booked before arrival, or booked on arrival. Test results will be communicated to each person tested when results are ready.

The summary added: “People failing to afford quarantine accommodation and/or transport will be handed over to Government Social Welfare Department.

“Each quarantine centre will be manned by police,” said the summary. It added: “There are no new measures for tourists. These are yet to be published.

“Government is yet to come up with a plan on whether to secure passports during the entire duration of the quarantine or isolation and only release the passports at the end of such period.”

Additional new regulations in Zimbabwe include a curfew from 21h00-06h00, and admission to restaurants, licensed premises and nightclubs is restricted to those who provide proof of full vaccination.

SAA has confirmed that the carrier’s operations from Johannesburg to Harare are currently operating as per schedule.

www.samigration.com

03 December 2021 – Businesstech

The Department of Home Affairs will pilot a new appointment system in 2022 in a bid to cut down on excessive queueing and corruption.

Briefing parliament on Tuesday (30 November), the department said that the appointment system has been finalised and will be deployed in selected offices in the current financial year. It initially plans to pilot the system in five high-volume offices, it said.

The system is integrated with the national population register to allow clients to use their ID number to book a slot. This will prevent agents illegally operating in home affairs offices from blocking slots to sell them on.

The department has previously said that the new system will use a mobile app that will allow South Africans to enter their user details and schedule appointments.

This includes options to book an appointment at a specific home affairs office in each province, as well as an expected start and end time.

Users are also expected to fill out a declaration regarding their health and Covid-19 status for health and safety regulations.

The new system forms part of a wider push to improve service delivery at Home Affairs offices, including a plan to address ageing equipment and an unstable network which has led to infrastructure issues. The department also plans to improve internet speeds and system downtime through new technologies, it said.

In November, Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed that it will also expand its partnership with banks to offer additional services at branches across the country in 2022.

Motsoaledi said the department’s partnership with banks is being piloted and operated at 25 bank branches.  “The intention is to increase the number of the sites to 70 once the Public-Private-Partnership Agreements are signed with the banks,” he said.

Home Affairs initially introduced its banking pilot to assist with the reduction of long queues at DHA offices, to expand the service platforms, and to allow citizens to apply for Smart ID cards and passports online.

Applicants are only required to visit the bank branch to complete biometric requirements, thereby reducing the time spent in the bank or Home Affairs office.

www.samigration.com

Three home affairs officials arrested for ‘soliciting money from shop owners’

Times live 1 December 2021

The three suspects will face charges of corruption in the Ermelo magistrate's court.

Two immigration officers and an assistant director from the department of home affairs in Ermelo were arrested for alleged corruption on Tuesday.

The three suspects are expected to appear before the magistrate’s court in Ermelo on Wednesday on charges of corruption.

The suspects allegedly demanded money from foreign nationals who own shops in Ermelo. .

Provincial police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala said a complainant reported the matter to the local police station and an investigation was launched by the Anti-Corruption Unit.

“An operation was conducted and the three suspects were arrested today after receiving trap money,” said Mohlala.

Provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela said police would do everything in their power to root out corruption in the province.

“No-one is above the law. Anyone found to be in breach of the law will be arrested, irrespective of the position he or she holds. Mpumalanga must be a crime-free province”

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