Reciprocity: Mozambique denies entry to travellers taking rapid Covid-19 test in South Africa – Watch

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Reciprocity: Mozambique denies entry to travellers taking rapid Covid-19 test in South Africa – Watch

11:38 CAT | 08 Jan 2021

On the right: Health post set up at Ressano Garcia border post, photographed on Tuesday, January 5, 2020. [ Photo: MISAU]

In a reciprocal measure, Mozambique has, since yesterday, been barring travellers from South Africa with a South African Covid-19 rapid test result from entering national territory.

South African authorities have refused, since the beginning of the week, to allow Mozambican citizens with rapid tests to enter their country, demanding the allegedly more credible PCR tests carried out in laboratories.

Yolanda dos Santos, provincial director of Health in Maputo, appealed to Mozambicans who intend travelling to South Africa not to do so without the PCR test, as they will not be able to cross the border.

Border movement at Ressano Garcia started to flow with relative normality yesterday, after a five-day ordeal for thousands, travellers having faced extremely difficult situations in queues at the border, such as inflated meal prices and the lack of toilet facilities, accommodation, and essential food.

Also read: South Africa denies entry to travellers taking rapid Covid-19 test in Mozambique – O País report

Many were left without enough money to support themselves, putting lives, especially of children, at risk, due mainly to lack of water.

Minister of Health Armindo Tiago gave assurances that the sector was investigating the origin of the Covid-19 fake tests among travellers, in order to determine whether health sector employees were involved in their origin and to guide responses.

“I want to ensure that the fake tests do not come from the National Institute of Health. Investigations are ongoing and we intend to get to the criminal origin of this situation,” he said.

Misauressano.misau_ — *Minister of Health visits Ressano Garcia border post on Tuesday, January 5, 2020. [Photo: MISAU]*

Contacted by Noticias, a source from the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) said that investigations were providing encouraging results and promising to name anybody responsible for the sale of fake Covid-19 tests as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, TEBA, a South African recruiter of miners to work in South Africa, has announced that it has set up Covid-19 test stations in its premises, where miners travelling to SA can take the test three days before travelling, thereby avoiding inconvenience at the border when returning to South Africa.