Mauritius shuts down after more COVID-19 cases reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Indian Ocean nation has also extended its quarantine regulations so that all passengers entering Mauritius until May 31 will have to complete a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Mauritius has so far implemented a rigorous monitoring regime to keep the island safe: all arrivals to the island are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine, combined with a pre-departure PCR test, arrival test and follow-up tests on days seven and 14 of their stay.
News of the border closure comes as a surprise, as Mauritius has been pitching itself as a safe haven from the pandemic. It launched its Premium Visa initiative in November, which allows tourists, retirees and professionals who are able to work remotely to stay on the island for up to a year.
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The Pearl of the Indian Ocean is where we would rather be…
Image via BestCruiseTV
Mark Twain wrote, “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius.” While the island in the Indian Ocean is famous for its beautiful powder-white sandy beaches, lagoons, reefs, azure waters and fabulous resorts, there’s much more to it. Thanks to hotspots like its mountainous interior and protected forest, there are some exceptional natural sites to win the heart of flora and fauna lovers who are ready for an adventure. From stellar hiking trails to jaw-dropping waterfalls and beautiful giant water lilies, this friendly, multi-cultural sub-tropical East South African haven with a pleasant climate all year round really does have a lot to offer for nature enthusiasts. Here are the top two places to get closer to nature according to the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.
South Africa’s FlySafair said it will launch a Johannesburg (JNB)-Mauritius (MRU) route when the borders of South Africa and Mauritius are reopened to air travelers.
FlySafair plans to operate the route 2X-weekly. Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority director Arvind Bundhun said: “Just a short four-hour flight connects the two countries, and many South African travelers return to the island year after year, considering Mauritius to be their second home. The new service operated by FlySafair will provide further choice to consumers and reinforce and strengthen the flight schedules available on this route.”
FlySafair CEO Elmar Conradie added: “We’re extremely humbled and grateful for the enthusiasm with which the authorities and people of Mauritius have greeted our [route] announcement. We’ve always prided ourselves on offering a service that is affordable, on-time and hassle-free and we look forward to making that a reality on this connection too.”
The destinations that won t allow South Africans entry due to coronavirus 501.v2 variant
By Travel Reporter
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With South Africa experiencing a new variant of the coronavirus that is driving the second wave of infections, many countries have decided to close its borders to South African travellers.
Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize tweeted last Friday: A variant of the SARS-COV-2 Virus - currently termed 501.V2 Variant - has been identified by our genomics scientists here in South Africa. The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant.