Authorities in the Netherlands have now given South Africa a new classification as a very-high-risk zone without a variant of concern, according to the Dutch government.
It means that while fully vaccinated South Africans may enter the Netherlands, they are still obliged to present a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before departure, or a negative antigen test not older than 24 hours before departure. They must fill in a quarantine declaration prior to departure, and then follow quarantine requirements in the country (this applies to people over the age of 12).
The 10-day home quarantine may be ended earlier with a negative COVID test result from a test taken on Day 5. Other than age, exemptions from quarantine are given for travellers attending a funeral in the Netherlands; some cross-border commuters and students; short-term business travellers and some travellers who are visiting family.
“Passengers transiting in the Netherlands will not be required to quarantine but must complete a quarantine declaration,” the statement says.
The authorities have tightened entry requirements for arrivals to prevent another increase in the number of infections. Additionally, the government is planning to shorten the validity of vaccination documents from next month.
Falling in step with the latest rules regarding the EU Vaccination Certificate, only vaccination certificates that indicate that the holder has taken the last vaccine dose within the prior nine months will be accepted.
To halt the spread of the Omicron variant during the December holiday season, the Netherlands government entered a strict lockdown at the same time that it ended the flight ban on arrivals from Southern African countries.
