COVID-19 Response

COVID.19 RESPONSE: REVISED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PERSONS ARRIVING IN NIGERIA FROM ANY COUNTRY (INCLUDING RETURNEES STRANDED NIGERIANS)

PRE-DEPARTURE 1 ON BOARD

  1. Passengers arriving [returning to Nigeria must have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 (pre-boarding PCR test in country of departure). PCR test MUST be within 2 weeks before departure and preferably no less than 5 days preboarding.
  2. Tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board; but for the 5 days minimum, this is advisory and will not preclude boarding.
  3. On board, passengers are required to fill in the Health Declaration/ Self-Reporting Form & the Sample Collection Time Allocation Form.
  4. Passengers should ensure that the information/contact details provided on the form are correct and are verifiable and they can be reached on the phone number and at the address provided.

ON ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA

  1. Upon arrival in Nigeria, passengers shall queue in an orderly manner and disembarkation will be done systematically and in batches to avoid overcrowding.
  2. Passengers will proceed for health screening at the Point of Entry.
  3. The Health Declaration Form will be assessed and collected along with the Sample Collection Form.
  4. Passengers are requested to:

(i)     Keep their face masks on.

(ii)    Perform hand hygiene.

(iii)   Ensure respiratory / cough etiquette; cough into tissue, sleeve/ bent elbow and discard used tissue safely into a bin.

(iv)   Always observe and maintain physical distancing measures.

  1. Persons who have arrived in Nigeria are advised to self-isolate for 14 days and to remain in the City/ State where the Point of Entry is located (i.e. Lagos or Abuja) throughout the duration of self-quarantine.
  2. If not resident in Lagos or Abuja, passengers shall make arrangements for accommodation at their own cost (please note that the Federal Government will not be responsible for providing accommodation nor transportation to the place of abode).
  3. Passengers will be cleared through the Nigeria Immigration System’s.Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and their passports retained until after successful completion of the 14 days self-quarantine.
  4.  They will be given an appointment time and date to present at the Sample Collection Centre located in Lagos or Abuja for a repeat COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.
  5.  Passengers must provide their full and correct address and phone number before exiting the airport. They must comply with self-isolation/quarantine guidelines and ensure that they can be reached/can be located during the period.
  6.  Persons who are unable to remain in Lagos or Abuja throughout the period of self-quarantine may return to their States of residence ONLY after:

(a)  They have had their samples collected and are NEGATIVE for COVID-19.

(b)  Provided Public Health Officials with their full and correct address

(c)  and phone number where they can be reached.

  1.  Persons who have completed the 14 days of self-isolation/quarantine will undergo an exit interview. Their details will be forwarded to the Nigeria Immigration Service for release of their passports. Alternative arrangements can be made to collect passports via Special delivery e.g. DHL.

This protocol will come into effect from Mon 8 June 2020.

COVID-19 RESPONSE: REVISED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL FOR PERSONS

ARRIVING IN NIGERIA FROM ANY COUNTRY (INCLUDING RETURNEES/STRANDED NIGERIANS)

AGREEMENT/DECLARATION TO COMPLY WITH SELF-ISOLATION/QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS

Name:—————————————————-of   —————————————–hereby accept /agree to:

i  Fill the Nigeria Health Declaration / Passenger Self-Reporting Form transparently and truthfully.

ii  Submit/surrender my International Passport to the Nigeria Immigration Service for special clearance until after the 14 days quarantine is successfully completed, NIS will keep my Passport until the 14th day.

iii  Present myself for a repeat COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in Nigeria within 24 to 48 hours at a facility to be determined by     government.

iv  Self-isolate/quarantine for a period of 14 (fourteen) days.

v   Provide contact details to include a valid phone number and address where I will self-isolate/quarantine.

vi  Be responsible for my transport and accommodation during the period of self-isolation/quarantine in Lagos or Abuja.

vii Abide by all the rules for self-isolation/quarantine.

viii Be subject to the provisions of extant Public Health Laws (including prosecution) if I fail to abide by the above-stated conditions,

——————————————                                ———————————————–                        

Signature                                                                                                      Date

8thJune 2020

COVID-19 RESPONSE: REVISED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL

PROTOCOL FOR THE EVACUATION OF NIGERIANS STRANDED ABROAD AND RETURNEES / PERSONS ARRIVING IN NIGERIA FROM ANY COUNTRY

A. PRE-DEPARTURE FROM COUNTRY OF EXIT

               i.  All Nigerians abroad should register themselves with the relevant Nigerian Missions in the country where they are stranded and provide the necessary information required to ensure effective implementation of this protocol.

             ii.   Nigerian Missions will coordinate and provide clearance for the evacuation of Nigerians abroad, working with the relevant government agencies. All evacuation flights must be signed off by the responsible Nigerian Mission.

           iii.    The Missions must provide sufficient information to airport authorities in Nigeria at least 72 hours prior to departure to enable proper categorisation of evacuees, this includes passenger’s biodata, phone number, permanent residence in Nigeria, and place of stay in Abuja or Lagos for the period of self-isolation/quarantine.

            iv.   Priority will be placed on the evacuation of those cases in challenging circumstances including short-term visitors, those on medical and official trips, family holidays, pregnant women, elderly and students.

             v.   Evacuation flights will only be allowed into Abuja and Lagos for now, with a limit of not more than 500 passengers for each destination per week in order to accommodate current laboratory sampling capacity.

            vi.   The cost of travel will be borne by travellers, including in-country transportation and accommodation as required by this policy.

          vii.    The Nigerian Missions must engage the relevant government agencies to support the process for the evacuation of  vulnerable persons including victims of trafficking.

        viii.     All intending travellers will be provided with an information leaflet prior to travel specifying the process for admission into Nigeria.

            ix.   Pre-boarding, all travellers must sign an undertaking that they consent to the additional public health measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including self-isolation on arrival in Abuja or Lagos for a period of 14 days, providing accurate contact details and having a COVID-19 PCR test repeated in Nigeria.

           x.     All intending travellers to Nigeria must have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 pre-boarding PCR test in country of  departure). PCR test MUST be within 2 weeks before departure and preferably not less than 5 days pre-boarding.

          xi.    Tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board; but for the 5 days minimum, this is advisory and will not preclude boarding.

          xii.   At the time of boarding, all travellers will undergo thermal screening for fever and symptoms of COVID-19. Passengers with COVID-19 related signs and symptoms will not be allowed to board the flight. 

           xiii.  Airlines must only board passengers with test results showing that the tests were done within the stipulated 14 days before boarding, Where the date of arriving passengers: test results are not in compliance;

                   a: Non- Nigerians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at cost to the Airlines.

                   b. Nigerians will be allowed entry but subjected to the 14 days mandatory quarantine at a facility approved by Government and at cost to the passenger(s).

                    c. Airlines will be fined USD3500 per passenger for failure to comply with the pre-boarding requirements.

B. ON ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA

All passengers [persons arriving in Nigeria will be:

(i)     Required to, on arrival at the airport, fill a self-reporting form and go through the normal Port Health screening where they will be provided information on where to present for sample collection with allocated timing* within 96 hours of arrival, depending on the number of passengers.

(ii)   Passengers are required to submit their international passports for clearance through the Nigeria Immigration System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS). The biodata page including passenger’s picture will be forwarded to the COVID-19 PCR Sample Collection Centre to enable proper identification before sample collection. Passports will be retained until completion of the 14 days self -isolation/quarantine period.

(iii)  Passengers will be allowed to go home at their own cost, but must present at the sample collection center at the allocated time; samples will be taken, and a COVID-19 PCR test done.

(iv)  Test results will be ready within 24 to 48 hours and Port Health Services & the Nigeria   Center for Disease Control will be informed accordingly.

                a. Persons who test POSITIVE for COVID-19 will be transferred to Treatment Centers.

                 b: Persons who test NEGATIVE for COVID -19, will be required to undergo supervised 14 days self- isolation/quarantine during which time, they need to avoid physical interaction with friends, family and staff (observe strict physical and social distancing).

                  c. Travelers reporting or developing symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival or during screening will not be allowed to self-quarantine and will be placed in institutional quarantine,

(v)  For deportees, if one person tests positive for COVID-19J all close primary contacts will be required to undergo enhanced screening  and an exit PCR test if necessary,

(vi)  Persons who develop symptoms of COVID-19during the observation/quarantine period will be required to call an identified [designated number and will immediately be taken for testing and if positive, sent to a Treatment Center or continue self-isolation as may be approved by the Case Management Team.

(vii)   Passenger are advised to remain in the City/State where the point of entry (POE) is located until the end of the 14 days self-isolation [quarantine and remain reachable during this period.

(viii)   Receive free Travelers Kits which contain:

  1. Digital clinical thermometer
  2. Temperature monitoring form on google sheets for e-monitoring
  3. Alcohol based hand sanitizer
  4. Documented guidelines for self-quarantine
  5. Pamphlet on COVID-19
  6. Face mask,

(ix)    Passengers will be monitored by Public Health Officers during the period of self -isolation/quarantine. Persons who develop symptoms of COVID-19 will be retested and if test results are positive, transferred to a Treatment center. For this – they will be required to provide a functioning (Nigeria) telephone number to Port Health Officials on arrival.

(x)    Persons who are unable to remain in Lagos or Abuja throughout the period of self-quarantine may return to their States of residence ONLY after:

a)     They have had their samples collected and are NEGATIVE for COVID-19.

b)     Provided Public Health Officials with their full and correct address and phone number where they can be reached.

C. EXIT FROM SELF-ISOLATION

Day 14

Persons who have completed 14 days of self-isolation [quarantine will:

(i)     Have an exit interview by phone on their 14th day by the monitoring team.

(ii)   If this is satisfactory, their details will be forwarded to the Nigeria Immigration Service to enable release of their passports upon completion of the 14 days self-isolation/quarantine.

(iii)   Passengers may make alternative arrangements to collect their passports from the Nigeria Immigration Service, such as via special delivery, DHL etc,

This protocol will come into effect from Monday 8 June 2020,