. Image: Pixabay
Passengers travelling to and from OR Tambo International can now get tested at the airport.
. Image: Pixabay
Most destinations require international visitors and returning residents to provide negative COVID-19 PCR test certificates in order to be granted entry into a country. This means travellers need to do COVID-19 PCR testing within 72 hours of their flight departure.
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has set up testing units at OR Tambo, providing convenient testing facilities for travellers who need to obtain negative COVID-19 PCR test certificates before their travels from South Africa.
Travellers can be tested on the same day as their flights or have the test done a day or two ahead of their international flights, then collect the certificates on the day of their flight. Most destinations require testing to be done within 72 hours of departure.
If arriving or returning travellers are not in possession of negative PCR test results, they will be directed to the airport’s testing facility, where a staff member from the NHLS will conduct the test immediately.
Travellers must cover the cost of the test themselves.
The traveller will be required to wait for the results to be processed before they will be allowed entry to South Africa.
If the test is negative, the traveller will be permitted to enter. But if the result is positive, the traveller will have to quarantine at a designated centre at their own cost.
Travellers will not be permitted to travel across provinces while under quarantine.
International passengers who refuse a test will have to quarantine at a designated centre at their own expense.
It is mandatory for non-South African travellers to download the South African COVIDAlert SA App which enables tracing while they are visiting this country.
Though compulsory, South African passport holders and permanent residents are also encouraged to download the app.