The Netherlands has reclassified South Africa as a very high-risk zone without any variants of concern, according to the government there
With the recent decision that took effect on January 16, South African citizens who have completed the immunization process against the virus will no longer be banned from entering the EU.
Travellers are still required to present a negative Coronavirus test upon arrival in the Dutch Republic and follow quarantine requirements, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Upon arriving in the Netherlands, all visitors over the age of 12 are required to follow mandatory quarantine requirements.
The statement reads, “All travellers over the age of 12 must self-quarantine for ten days and sign a quarantine declaration.”
A negative COVID-19 PCR test result, not older than 48 hours before departure, as well as a negative antibody test not older than 24 hours, is required of all passengers over the age of 12.
The quarantine will not be required for passengers in transit, but a quarantine declaration must be completed.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 3,568,900 cases of Coronavirus, while 21,155 people have died as a result.
Over 226,130 people have contracted the Coronavirus in the last seven days, and 76 have died from it, according to WHO figures.
To prevent another increase in the number of infections, the Netherlands has tightened entry requirements for arrivals from other countries.
Also, the Dutch government has announced that it is planning on shortening the validity of vaccination certificates starting next month.
According to the latest rules regarding the EU Vaccination Certificate, the Dutch Republic will accept only documents that indicate that the holder has taken a last vaccination dose within nine months.
The Dutch government previously enacted strict lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus, particularly the Omicron variant, during the holiday season.
Mark Rutte, the Dutch Prime Minister at the time, emphasized that Dutch authorities needed to intervene since Omicron was spreading faster than expected.
A flight ban imposed due to Coronavirus on Southern African countries was abolished in the Netherlands in December.
