Back on March 19th, the Egyptian government, following in the footsteps of health and tourism officials around the world, closed its borders to all international travel. The idea behind the move was to protect the country from visitors who may have been infected with the coronavirus and would then spread it once in Egypt.
The number of cases of COVID-19 within Egypt remained low following the ban, relative to its large population of nearly 100 million people, until summer when it spiked considerably despite the ban remaining in place. It was unclear what contributed to the spike, but it caused a delay in the re-opening of international travel.
Every country needed to balance protecting its citizens from the disease with ensuring that they had opportunities to make a living and provide for their families. That is why on July 1st, Egyptian officials decided to allow for air travel to resume to Egypt from specific countries.
The move essentially handed over the decision of whether it was safe to travel to Egypt to the travelers themselves. If tourists felt comfortable traveling during the pandemic, they were free to enter Egypt.
This was, of course, provided that they had prior permission to do so in the form of an electronic visa or were from one of the 46 countries whose citizens are eligible for an Egypt visa on arrival.
As the summer wore on and autumn came, Egyptian travel officials continued tweaking their policy to best protect everyone who was already inside of Egypt as well as anyone choosing to enter the country. Read on to learn more about the latest news and information regarding traveling to Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is There Currently a Travel Ban in Place for Egypt
Throughout the entirety of the initial lockdowns, governments were constantly reminding their citizens that there would be a second wave of the coronavirus later in the year.
This reminder has been a dark cloud hovering over the reopening of borders and the travel and tourism industries. The understanding that a second wave would most likely bring with it another shutdown has been on the mind of everyone who earns a living from the hospitality industry or who can’t wait to travel again.
The good news, for now, is that Egypt is managing the coronavirus and has decided to remain open for tourism. The government has put in a few safety measures to help ensure that they are being responsible and taking care of their population.
For now, it seems as if the majority of the tourist attractions in the major cities are remaining open. As this information can change, it is best to double-check before traveling to any particular museum or archaeological site.
Typically, official tourism websites will have the latest information regarding what is or is not open and whether or not you must book ahead for a specific timeslot. If you are staying in a hotel, asking your concierge to help is always a great idea.
What to Know Before Entering Egypt
While it is true that Egypt’s international borders remain open, officials are not letting just anyone enter. Travelers must provide proof of a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test within 72-hours of their departing flight to Egyp. This is to help ensure that as few outside cases of the virus as possible are entering the country.
In addition to the PCR, every passenger will have their temperature checked upon arrival. While the PCR is a trusted examination, Egyptian officials want to be as safe as they can be.
A passenger with a high temperature may be required to take another PCR and to self-isolate until they have received their results and can prove that they are free of the virus.
While in public spaces, including visiting local attractions in Egypt, you should be a responsible traveler and follow all of the local health guidelines to safely allow for the tourism industry to remain open.
Face coverings are required by everyone and social distancing is also necessary. It is recommendable to carry some hand sanitizing agent and use it frequently in addition to thoroughly washing your hands whenever you may have been exposed to other people.
The world awaits a vaccine, which will hopefully bring with it a time when travel can be resumed at the previous levels. After all, traveling can be extremely healing. To that point, those who do decide to continue exploring must do so safely. If these guidelines are followed by everyone, travelers in Egypt can have a safe and pleasant time.
Author Bio:
Cathy Slater is an experienced content writer. She is associated with many renowned travel blogs as a guest author where she shares her valuable travel tips with the audience.