## When is International Travel Expected to Resume in South Africa?
South Africa has been one of the hardest-hit countries by the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1.5 million confirmed cases and 52,000 deaths. The country’s borders have been closed to international travel since March 2020, with only a few exceptions for essential travel.
The South African government has been gradually easing lockdown restrictions in recent months, but the international travel ban remains in place. The government has said that it is considering reopening the borders to international travel in the near future, but no specific date has been set.
There are a number of factors that will determine when international travel will resume in South Africa. These include:
The progress of the COVID-19 vaccination program
The global COVID-19 situation
The advice of the World Health Organization (WHO)
The economic impact of the travel ban
Progress of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program
The South African government has set a target of vaccinating 67% of the population by the end of 2021. As of August 2021, over 10 million people have been vaccinated in South Africa. The government is hoping to accelerate the vaccination program in the coming months, but it is unclear how long it will take to reach the target.
Global COVID-19 Situation
The global COVID-19 situation is still fluid, with new variants of the virus emerging all the time. The WHO has warned that the pandemic is not over yet, and it is important for countries to remain vigilant. The South African government will need to assess the global situation before making a decision on whether to reopen the borders to international travel.
Advice of the WHO
The WHO has advised countries to take a cautious approach to reopening their borders. The WHO has recommended that countries should only reopen their borders when the following conditions are met:
The COVID-19 vaccination program is well-established and a significant proportion of the population has been vaccinated
The global COVID-19 situation is stable
There is no evidence of widespread transmission of new variants of the virus
Economic Impact of the Travel Ban
The travel ban has had a significant impact on the South African economy. The tourism industry, which is one of the country’s largest employers, has been particularly hard hit. The government will need to weigh the economic benefits of reopening the borders against the public health risks.
Conclusion
It is difficult to say exactly when international travel will resume in South Africa. The government will need to consider a number of factors, including the progress of the vaccination program, the global COVID-19 situation, the advice of the WHO, and the economic impact of the travel ban. The government has said that it is considering reopening the borders in the near future, but no specific date has been set.