PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON COVID-19

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION

8th June 2020 COVID-19 RESPONSE: REVISED QUARANTINE PROTOCOL

PROTOCOL FOR THE EVACUATION OF NIGERIANS STRANDED ABROAD AND RETURNEES / PERSONS ARRIVING IN NIGERIA FROM ANY COUNTRY

1. PRE-DEPARTURE FROM COUNTRY OF EXIT
1. All Nigerians abroad should register themselves with the relevant Nigerian Missions in the country where they are stranded and provide the necessary information required to ensure effective implementation of this protocol.

2. Nigerian Missions will coordinate and provide clearance for the evacuation of Nigerians abroad, working with the relevant government agencies. All evacuation flights must be signed off by the responsible Nigerian Mission.
3. The Missions must provide sufficient information to airport authorities in Nigeria at least 72 hours prior todeparture to enable proper categorisation of evacuees. This includes passenger’s biodata, phonenumber, permanent residence in Nigeria, and place of stay in Abuja or Lagos for the period of self-isolation/quarantine.
4. Priority will be placed on the evacuation of those cases in challenging circumstances including short-term visitors, those on medical and official trips, family holidays, pregnant women, elderly andstudents.
5. Evacuation flights will only be allowed into Abuja and Lagos for now, with a limit of not more than 500 passengers for each destination per week in order to accommodate current laboratory samplingcapacity.
6. The cost of travel will be borne by travelers, including in-country transportation and accommodation as required by this policy.
7. The Nigerian Missions must engage the relevant government agencies to support the process for theevacuation of vulnerable persons including victims of trafficking.
8. All intending travelers will be provided with an information leaflet prior to travel specifying the process for admission into Nigeria.

9. Pre-boarding, all travelers must sign an undertaking that they consent to the additional public health measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including self-isolation on arrival in Abuja or Lagos for a period of 14 days, providing accurate contact details and having a COVID-19 PCR test repeated in Nigeria.

10. All intending travelers to Nigeria must have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 (pre- boarding PCR test in country of departure). PCR test MUST be within 2 weeks before departure and preferably no less than 5 days pre-boarding.
11. Tests done more than two weeks before departure are not valid and persons will not be allowed to board; but for the 5 days minimum, this is advisory and will not preclude boarding.
12. At the time of boarding, all travelers will undergo thermal screening for fever and symptoms of COVID-19. Passengers with COVID-19 related signs and symptoms will not be allowed to board the flight.
13. Airlines must only board passengers with test results showing that the tests were done within the stipulated 14 days before boarding. Where the date of arriving passengers’ test results are not incompliance;
    1. Non- Nigerians may be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at cost to theAirlines.
    2. Nigerians will be allowed entry but subjected to the 14 days mandatory quarantine at a facility approved by Government and at cost to the passenger(s).
    3. Airlines will be fined USD3500 per passenger for failure to comply with the pre-boardingrequirements.

B.    ON ARRIVAL IN NIGERIA

All passengers /persons arriving in Nigeria will be:

1. Required to, on arrival at the airport, fill a self-reporting form and go through the normal Port Health screening where they will be provided information on where to present for sample collection withallocated timing* within 96 hours of arrival, depending on the number of passengers.
2. Passengers are required to submit their international passports for clearance through the NigeriaImmigration System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS). The biodata page including passenger’s picture will be forwarded to the COVID-19 PCR Sample Collection Centre to enable proper identification before sample collection. Passports will be retained until completion of the 14 days self -isolation/quarantine period.

3. Passengers will be allowed to go home at their own cost, but must present at the sample collectioncenter at the allocated time; samples will be taken, and a COVID-19 PCR test done:
4. Test results will be ready within 24 to 48 hours and Port Health Services & the Nigeria Center for Disease Control will be informed accordingly.
   1. Persons who test POSITIVE for COVID-19 will be transferred to Treatment Centers.
   2. Persons who test NEGATIVE for COVID -19, will be required to undergo supervised 14 days self- isolation/quarantine during which time, they need to avoid physical interaction withfriends, family and staff (observe strict physical and social distancing).
   3. Travelers reporting or developing symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival, or during screening willnot be allowed to self-quarantine and will be placed in institutional quarantine.
5. For deportees, if one person tests positive for COVID-19, all close primary contacts will be required to undergo enhanced screening and an exit PCR test if necessary.
6. Persons who develop symptoms of COVID-19 during the observation/quarantine period will be required to call an identified /designated number and will immediately be taken for testing and if positive, sent to a Treatment Center or continue self-isolation as may be approved by the Case Management Team.
7. Passenger are advised to remain in the City/State where the point of entry (POE) is located until the end of the 14 days self-isolation /quarantine and remain reachable during this period.
8. Receive free Travelers Kits which contain:
   1. A digital clinical thermometer
      2. Temperature monitoring form on google sheets for e-monitoring
      3. Alcohol based hand sanitizer
      4. Documented guidelines for self-quarantine
      5. Pamphlet on COVID-19
      6. Face mask.
   9. Passengers will be monitored by Public Health Officers during the period of self

–isolation/quarantine. Persons who develop symptoms of COVID-19 will be retested and if test results are positive, transferred to a Treatment center. For this – they will be required to provide afunctioning (Nigeria) telephone number to Port Health Officials on arrival.

10. Persons who are unable to remain in Lagos or Abuja throughout the period of self-quarantine may return to their States of residence ONLY after:
    1. They have had their samples collected and are NEGATIVE for COVID-19.