The Federal Government has added Austria and Sweden to the list of high-risk countries restricted from entering Nigeria over the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier on, 13 countries were banned from entering Nigeria due to the growing coronavirus pandemic. The countries include China, Iran, South Korea, Germany, Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, France, and Japan.
With the addition of Sweden and Austria, the total number of high-risk countries under restriction comes to 15.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who made this known in a press briefing while giving an update on the coronavirus in Abuja, also said that international travel to Nigeria has been temporarily limited to only two international airports: Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for better control of new arrivals.
He said: “Following the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) and increasing spread of COVID-19, our strategy is to detect and isolate new cases as early as possible to interrupt or reduce transmission of infections.
“To this end, we have scaled up our response efforts. To reduce the risk of new cases entering Nigeria, the government, through the Presidential Task Force on the Control of Coronavirus (COVlD-19), announced a ban on entry for travelers from 13 known high-risk countries.
“According to our national case definition, we have identified two more high risk countries, Austria and Sweden, who were added in the last 24 hours. We are also including COVID-19 testing in our routine surveillance for influenza-like illness.
“For better control of new arrivals, international travel to Nigeria has been temporarily limited to only two international airports: Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
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“Port health services will be strengthened at these airports. Other airports shall be closed to international traffic. These decisions will be reviewed as the situation demands.
“Travelers from all countries shall be required to self-isolate for 14 days after entry, along the guidelines provided to them. Non-compliance puts your family, friends, and the public at risk, even if you feel well.
“As for arrivals from the high-risk countries named, their self-isolation shall be supervised in the form of follow up to be conducted by port health services and NCDC with the option of testing, as need arises.”