Monday August 3, 2020
A photo showing troops guarding Barawe Airport in Somalia. /Social Media
Somalia resumed international flights to and from the Horn of African nation on Monday after four months of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The immigration department cautioned that strict health measures must be adhered to as the country reopens its airspace for international flights.
The department said passengers will acquire COVID-19 clearance certificates within three days before travel, noting that all immigration services will restart at all entry points.
"The travelers must have a medical certificate confirming they are free from COVID-19. The certificate (COVID-19 negative certificate) should be obtained not later than 72 hours before the travel time,”the department said on Monday.
On July 30, the cabinet had announced that international flights shall resume on Monday and schools and universities are expected to reopen on August 15 after five months’closure to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The cabinet had also ordered the immigration department to put in place measures for resumption of international travel.
Somalia has so far 3,212 COVID-19 cases, 1,598 recoveries and 93 deaths as of Sunday.