South Africa has reopened to international flights for the first time in about six months, citing a considerable drop in the number of daily coronavirus cases in the country.
The move came on Thursday. The country had closed its borders in March as part of anti-coronavirus measures.
Travelers arriving on international flights must submit a negative coronavirus test result issued before departure.
Tourists are still banned from more than 50 countries where infections are high, including the United States and Brazil.
The reopening is expected to help increase business activity in South Africa, the most industrialized economy on the continent.
Flights from Germany, Kenya, and elsewhere landed at the international airport in the largest city of Johannesburg on Thursday.
Among the passengers was a Malaysian man who was relieved to return from a business trip during which South Africa closed its borders.
A Canadian traveler was excited about being able to visit her partner in South Africa.
South Africa has confirmed more than 670,000 coronavirus cases to date. This is nearly half of the total infections detected on the continent.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in mid-September that the country "succeeded in overcoming the worst phase of this pandemic."
nhk
