Covid 19: Excitement as Federal Government Lifts Travel Restrictions

Covid 19: Federal Government Lifts Travel Restrictions.

The Federal Government of Nigeria yesterday made a revelation on its covid 19 health guidelines for the aviation ministry with almost all restrictions placed on passengers and operators removed.

According to the Director General Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu. The widespread presence of the covid-19 virus in Nigeria and most of the world has been very low for a long moment in time.

The DG NCAA went on to explain that the presidential steering committee on covid-19 has revised the public health guidelines.

A memo addressed to all airline operators and all the stakeholders in the aviation ministry by the NCAA confirms that the spread of the pandemic in the country and most of the world has remained at a low level for a protracted period.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in the memo it’s released on the 12th of December with the reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/358 stated that the new review was sanctioned by the presidential steering committee.

Here are some of the changes to the revised public health guidelines

• The wearing of face masks inside airport terminal buildings and onboard aircraft by passengers, crew members, and airport workers is no longer compulsory or mandatory. Although wearing of face masks by passengers on board an aircraft or inside the airport terminal building is not compulsory but is recommended. It is also advised that people 60 years and above, who are immunocompromised and also those with comorbidities are asked to wash their hands thoroughly with water and soap, use face masks and also use alcohol-based sanitisers and avoid large gatherings.
• Airlines are to go back to serving meals and drinks on board an aircraft while the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers by passengers and airport workers is recommended.
• The disinfection of bags at the entrance of terminal buildings and maintenance of social distancing at airport terminal billions are no longer required
• These requirements apply to both domestic and international operations.
• The pre-departure and post-arrival covid-19 PCR test that was compulsory is no longer compulsory for all passengers and this is irrespective of their vaccination status and they are no longer required to show PCR test results
• Also, PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially or not fully vaccinated have been suspended
• The permission to travel/ QR code is also no longer required
• The NCAA said its simplified health questionnaire form non-covid 19 required to be completed by all passengers travelling into Nigeria preferably pre-departure on the Nigerian international travel portal NITP.
• It is compulsory to fill out the health questionnaire form on the NITP pre-departure website or you will be required to feel the questionnaire either on board the aircraft before landing or at the airport’s terminal building upon arrival the new protocol stated also
• The 6 ft apart, social distancing requirements at airport building terminals are also no longer required.
• Limitations placed on gathering in public spaces have also been lifted.  it is advised that owners of facilities are encouraged to keep good environmental respiratory hygiene and also ventilation.
• The 7 days self-isolation and day 7 post-arrival negative covid-19 PCR test are no longer required and are now made optional.

These are some of the changes made to the covid 19 health guidelines.

The prevalence of the covid-19 and how it ravaged the nation called for strict health guidelines in the aviation and travel industry to protect both the citizens and the travellers and aviation workers from the spread of the covid 19.

The NCAA set up these guidelines to try to reduce the widespread of the virus. Some of these guidelines were the compulsory use of face masks at airport terminal buildings, on board an aircraft, social distancing, the compulsory 7-day self-isolation, the covid-19 vaccination and so much more even though some of these guidelines were rallied against by passengers.

Covid19 is a virus that can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose and spread through small liquid particles when they cough, breathe, speak or sneeze. These particles can go from a larger respiratory goblet to smaller aerosols. You can contact covid-19 by breathing in the virus if you are close to someone who has the virus or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching any opening in your body like your nose, mouth or eyes. This virus spreads more quicker indoors and in crowded settings

About 266,381 covid 19 cases have been confirmed in Nigeria about 250,975 cases have been discharged and 3,155 deaths have been recorded in the 36 states of the nation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The lifting of restrictions on the covid 19 travelling safety measures is coming two years after the measures were put in place to try to combat the spread of the covid 19 virus among passengers, crew, airport workers and citizens in the country. The country has been through a lot since then and has come out on the other side. Which is why it makes me so glad that we have gotten here and things are getting better moving forward. One less thing to worry about while you travel.