ALGIERS- The Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform, Abderrahmane Benbouzid, said, Thursday in Boufarik (Blida), that the scientific committee has given instructions allowing Algerian nationals and foreigners to enter the country under strict conditions with a view to protecting citizens against the Covid 19, and mainly the new variants.
“We have carried out a study and given instructions, in line with the guidelines of the Scientific Committee, with a view to authorizing the entry of Algerians and foreigners into the national territory in the near future, but with strict measures,” the minister said on the sidelines of a visit to the Department of Infectious Diseases in Boufarik Hospital.
“People entering Algeria, whether nationals or foreigners, will have to present a PCR test of less than 36 hours upon their arrival, and undergo tests that we consider reliable.”
To this end, “travellers with Covid-19 “negative test will be allowed to enter the country and will be informed of recommendations and instructions to follow while travellers with positive results will be subjuct to self-isolation for 10 days,” pointed out the Head of Health department, adding that the costs for the examination upon arrival and the lock-up will be borne by the person concerned.
Travelers from countries where variants are widespread “will be subject to further examination,” knowing that the symptoms do not appear systematically in the beginning of the contamination.
While admitting that the reopening of borders is not among the prerogatives of its department, the Minister of Health stressed that Algeria has economic and trade relations with some countries and there are foreigners who come under this framework, and therefore, the measures taken are to protect our citizens against the new variants.
APS
