Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo, elaborated, this evening, during a press conference held in Port Louis, on the various measures that the Ministry of Tourism has taken so as to ensure the safe reopening of the country’s borders on 01 October 2021.
The Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Darsanand Balgobin, was also present. DPM Obeegadoo stated that the reopening of the country’s borders on 01 October 2021 is a major leap towards getting back to normal life.
The reopening of our borders, he emphasised, is crucial for the country’s economy, as tourism contributes to some 23% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
He observed that some 100,000 households depend on tourism-related activities adding that Government has injected some Rs 10,4 billion in financial assistance to those affected by the temporary cessation of activities in the tourism sector, notably through the Wage Assistance Scheme and the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme, amongst others.
Mr Obeegadoo informed that his Ministry has been working relentlessly to ensure that the reopening of borders is carried out in a safe environment and dwelt on the specific measures that have been taken to this end.
This includes a joint collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism with the private sector for the elaboration of the Mauritius Now campaign. As regards air connectivity, the DPM indicated that all airlines serving Mauritius have resumed activities and will be operational, adding that there is an increase in the number of bookings.
He also pointed out that as regards accommodation capacity, some 1,000 hotels and other tourist accommodations registered with the Tourism Authority are prepared to resume activities.
He recalled that all staff working directly with tourists have been trained on health protocols. He further stated that a declining rate in the number of positive cases to COVID-19 on a daily basis is being observed. According to him, this shows that the situation is under control and is being monitored by the authorities.
The Tourism Minister also highlighted that in order to reduce risks of contaminations, Government has taken various steps to protect the population, including making vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for certain sectors and the extension of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with the booster Sinopharm dose, and the vaccination of adolescents.
He also announced that as from 01 October 2021, all staff members and people getting access to hotels and sports facilities, will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Same will be applicable as from 15 October 2021, for all staffs getting access to the premises of the Police force, Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service, and wedding halls, amongst others, he added.
DPM Obeegadoo also spoke about the progress made in the vaccination rate among the population. Mauritius, he pointed out, is ranked second among African countries and islands in the Indian ocean for its highest vaccinated rate.
On 29 September, some 68% of the population had received a first jab of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 88% of the adult population have had same, he informed.
Conditions for fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated tourists coming to Mauritius
The DPM also elaborated on the conditions imposed on fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated tourists coming to Mauritius.
They include : exemption of quarantine period for fully vaccinated passengers who have been administered for at least 14 days before their departure with a full course of AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria or Covishield), Covaxin, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Sputnik V, or at least 28 days before their departure with a Janssen vaccine or have documentary evidence that they have recovered from COVID-19 and thereafter have been vaccinated with one dose of the above-mentioned vaccines at least 14 days before departure.
Before fully vaccinated tourists travel to Mauritius, they should take a pre-departure PCR test within 72 hours before departure, the result of which should be negative; take a health insurance covering COVID-19 (Mauritian nationals and Occupation/Residence Permit Holders exempted); and complete a Passenger Locator Form.
Besides they should take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the hotel and take the test on day 5 at the hotel if they are booked at a registered hotel. If they are not booked at a registered hotel, they should take a test on arrival at the airport and take a self-administered test on day 5. They will be allowed to explore the country after a negative test taken in arrival – at the hotel or at the airport.
For those tourists who are not fully vaccinated, before they travel to Mauritius, they should:
Take a predeparture PCR test within 72 hours before departure, the result of which should be negative;
Take a health insurance covering COVID-19 (Mauritian nationals and Occupation/Residence Permit Holders exempted);
Book and pay for a 14-day in-room stay package at a designated hotel including airport-hotel transfers and PCR tests on days 0, 7 and 14; and complete the Passenger Locator Form.
The DPM also spoke about the health protocols that have been set up to ensure that Government will be able to provide the necessary services in case of a surge in contaminations. This includes a Preparedness plan that caters for equipment, resources and staffs, amongst others, he said.
Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass
As for Minister Balgobin, he announced the launching of the Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass, that will be used to have access to places where it is obligatory to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
He indicated that it will be accessible on the beSafeMoris application or its website, as well as MoKloud and will be available as from midnight today.
He explained the steps required for the registration to obtain the Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass, and pointed out that the user can use both snapshot or make a printout of it.
The QR code of the Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass will specify details including the ID number, name, date of birth, the vaccines administered and its batch number, the number of doses and when they have been administered, along with the vaccination centre.
The Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass will be applicable for those who are fully and partially vaccinated, those exempted, and those who had a booster dose, informed the Minister.
He pointed out that the data entry of 95 % of the vaccinated population has been made so far adding that the exercise will be completed soon. Meanwhile, he underlined that those who have not obtained their Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass can use their vaccination card.
He also added that the public can visit Mauritius Post Offices where officers of the Digital Service Centre will assist them in their registration exercise.
This service, he stressed, will be free of charge. He emphasised that the Pass is secured and can be easily verified, thus preventing any fraudulent activities.
Furthermore, Minister Balgobin highlighted that the Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Pass has been adapted to a European Union model. With this initiative, he said, Mauritius has made an important step in the technological landscape as it is among the few countries to propose such a facility. We are leveraging technology to help the country in its combat against the pandemic, he stated.
