The federal government says diplomats from Brazil, India,
South Africa and Turkey will, henceforth, be asked to quarantine in
government-approved facilities.
Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, stated this
on Monday during the media briefing of the presidential steering committee on
COVID-19 (PSC).
The foreign minister, however, said there may be some
exceptions.
He noted that ambassadors and deputy ambassadors coming from
these countries will be exempted, but asked to isolate in their private
residences.
“All diplomats coming from any of those four countries
within the last 14 days have to, we’re afraid, quarantine in approved
government facilities,” he said.
“The only exemption or waiver from this would be for the
ambassador of a particular country, and his or her spouse, and the deputy
ambassador.
“Only those three categories of diplomats can get an exemption not to isolate, but they still have to isolate in their private residences or whatever, but not have to isolate in government-approved facilities.”
The minister noted that the federal government has come up
with guidelines for diplomats and other foreign officials coming into the
country.
Onyeama said the protocol was for two categories —
restricted and non-restricted countries — adding that there are four countries
under the restricted protocol — South Africa, India, Brazil and Turkey.
The federal government had placed special restrictions on
in-bound travellers from South Africa, India, Brazil and Turkey, as a result of
the high number of COVID infections in those countries.
“We had some issues with diplomats at ports of entry. The
presidential steering committee decided that we had to come up with something
that was clear that everybody, all the diplomats, would understand and not have
the difficult situation that we were having,” Onyeama said at the briefing on
Monday.
“So, basically, there are two categories of countries. As
you know, there are four countries that are under a restricted protocol and
non-restricted countries.
“Now, regarding diplomats coming from the restricted
countries, or that have visited or passed through those restricted countries,
in the last 14 days, there’s a special protocol that we have in place now. So,
of course, everybody has to do a PCR test, you know, before travelling 72 hours
before.
“But for non-restricted countries, the diplomats coming from
those countries just have to have 72 hours prior PCR tests, and then within
seven days, do a test in any accredited private laboratory.
“If they have not taken a valid PCR test, then they would
have to be quarantined in government facilities. But if they do have a PCR
test, they still have to do a seven-day self isolation at their residence. And,
you know, if they do test positive for diplomats, and it’s a mild condition,
they can be isolated at home. And if it’s moderate to severe, then they have to
be in an accredited hospital facility.
“Now, for those
diplomats coming from non-restricted countries, they can get special waivers on
the seven-day isolation. And this will be applicable or available to
high-profile diplomats.
“If, for instance, they are coming to meet with the
president, or the vice-president, then they will qualify for a seven-day
isolation, then the others will now be decided on an ad hoc basis as to whether
they would benefit from that waiver.”
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