Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Port Louis, Mauritius

Location:  Mauritius, Seychelles, and Reunion (France – Overseas Department)

Event:

The Mauritius Ministry of Health has confirmed 324 cases of COVID-19.

The government of Mauritius has implemented measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available.

The U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius, has become aware of an Air France flight (AF671) departing Mauritius this Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 19:55 for Paris, Charles de Gaulle. Seats are available for purchase directly through Air France. U.S. citizens travelling to the United States must have onward tickets or risk being denied boarding and/or entry to France. An onward flight to New York City is currently available. For those unable to obtain a ticket immediately, standby status may be available as last minute cancellations by travelers may occur. Please visit the Air France website immediately at https://www.airfrance.mu or phone the call center at +230 402 4900, +230 5258 5878, +230 5421 4756, or +230 5497 2515 to purchase tickets.

U.S. citizens are currently permitted to transit Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport only with a direct, onward flight to the United States. Travelers are not permitted to leave the international zone and will not be admitted to France. Food and other services in the transit area are extremely limited. Passengers must be prepared to be self-sufficient during their transit.

Anyone transiting through France to reach the United States must have an attestation, available here, with the English version here.  You do not need an endorsement from the Embassy for this attestation.

Additional information regarding entry, exit, and transit requirements for France can be found at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in France Covid-19 web page at https://fr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

U.S. citizens who choose to remain in Mauritius should be prepared for an indefinite stay.

The Seychelles Department of Health has confirmed 11 cases of COVID-19.

The government of Seychelles has implemented measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available.

Effective March 25, 2020, any passenger arriving from any country (except returning Seychellois citizens) will not be allowed to enter Seychelles.

Effective March 30, 2020, the government of Seychelles announced the daily closure of all shops at 18:30 and the prohibition of gatherings of more than four people in public places.

Effective April 9, 2020, a three-week period of confinement and shutdown has been announced. Medical service providers (clinics and hospitals) remain operational. Non-essential shops and businesses will remain closed. Grocery stores are permitted to operate from 06:00 to 18:30. Non-essential workers should remain at home. Members of the public will have restricted movement on the roads with access granted for essentials only such as grocery shopping, medical care, and banking. Police may enforce restrictions with checkpoints. Public transportation will be limited to the number of people employed in essential services. A list of essential offices and services has been published on the Seychelles Department of Health website.

Visit the Seychelles Department of Health website and Facebook for additional information.

If you are planning on departing Seychelles to return to the United States but have been unable to obtain space on a commercial flight, please contact ConAgencySeychelles@State.gov with your name, the names of your immediate family members who are also traveling, and all appropriate contact information.  The U.S. Consular Agency is unable to provide travel assistance to countries other than the United States. While no commercial options may currently exist, should one become available U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States are strongly urged to arrange travel immediately. As the Covid-19 situation develops, our ability to provide assistance working with commercial airlines or arrange for evacuation flights may become more limited or even unavailable. There is no guarantee that the Department of State will be able to continue to provide repatriation assistance and transportation options to the United States may be unavailable in the future. If you choose to remain overseas, you should be prepared to remain where you are for the foreseeable future.

The Reunion Regional Public Health Agency has confirmed 391 cases of COVID-19 in Reunion.

The Reunion Regional Public Health Agency has implemented measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States are urged to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available.

Effective March 20, 2020, travelers arriving for pleasure, such as tourism and family visits, are not permitted entry to Reunion Island. All other passengers are screened by medical staff.

Effective March 30, 2020, travelers arriving in Reunion will be transported from the airport directly to quarantine centers. They will not be allowed to go to their homes or have in-person contact with external visitors for the following 14 days.

Visit the Reunion Regional Public Health Agency (French) for additional information.

U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. As the Covid-19 situation develops, our ability to provide assistance working with commercial airlines or arrange for evacuation flights may become more limited or even unavailable. There is no guarantee that the Department of State will be able to continue to provide repatriation assistance and transportation options to the United States may be unavailable in the future. If you choose to remain overseas, you should be prepared to remain where you are for the foreseeable future.

The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19.

Actions to Take:

  •          Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
  •          Reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
  •          Visit the COVID-19 page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
  •          Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
  •          Visit the Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Reunion.
  •          Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website for the latest travel restrictions to the United States.

Assistance: