Several countries have been added to Gibraltar’s travel red list in line with measures also announced by the UK and EU. The flight bans have been introduced in response to reports of a new COVID-19 variant (Omicron) detected in southern African and other affected countries.
The restrictions came into force in Gibraltar at 1pm on Friday 26 November and affect travellers from the following countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Four other countries were added from 28 November: Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
In a press release announcing the updated red list, the Gibraltar government said passengers should continue to check travel guidance information before, during and after travel in order to stay up to date with entry requirements and ensure compliance with the latest COVID-19 rules.
No person who has been in a red list country in the 10-day period preceding their date of arrival is permitted to enter Gibraltar, unless they meet one of the exemption categories specified in the latest Technical Notice.
Minister for civil contingencies Samantha Sacramento said, “Gibraltar has today updated its red list, following reports of a new COVID-19 variant of concern in those countries. HM Government of Gibraltar is continuously monitoring the global situation and evidence regarding COVID-19 and will move quickly, on Public Health advice, to implement any necessary safeguards that are deemed appropriate and proportionate.”
The good news, at least for local Gibraltarians and tourists planning to travel to the Rock, is that the vaccine booster campaign is progressing well. According to the government, “Gibraltar currently has the highest rate of boosters administered per capita than anywhere else in the world. The booster programme is proving very successful in Gibraltar, and this is evident in the very low numbers of cases in the older age groups who received the booster more than two weeks ago, compared to the numbers of cases in younger age groups who have not yet received a booster. The Pfizer booster is 94 per cent effective after 14 days.”
