No PCR Test: Get your kids back to SA with this ‘loophole’

Parents with kids between the ages of five and 12 CAN get their kids back into SA without a PCR test. Here’s the ‘loophole’…

Travelling to and from South Africa has been made a bit easier over the past few months. A large amount of COVID-19 restrictions have been dumped both internationally and locally. While SA had almost 100 000 overseas visitors in February, the government’s PCR testing policy has caused some issues.

TRAVELLERS HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO GET BACK INTO SA

Travellers who wish to make their way into SA have two options: they can show that they have been vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours. Children below the age of five are exempt from the vaccine or PCR requirements in SA.

The exemption causes concerns for parents of kids between the ages of five and 12. The country’s vaccination rollout is only open to people 12 years and older. For SA travellers with children in the five to 12 year age group, a negative PCR test is unavoidable.

ALSO READ: PCR no more: SA drops tests for vaccinated travellers

In the case where a child produces a positive test result the family will, supposedly, be stuck at their holiday destination. Even if the child has long recovered, there is a possibility of a residue of a recent infection. 

THE ‘LOOPHOLE’ THAT PARENTS CAN USE TO GET THEIR KIDS INTO THE COUNTRY

There is, however, a way for the Department of Health in SA to get children in this age group back into the country without a negative COVID-19 test. This provision or ‘loophole’ in the law requires that the traveller has recovered from COVID-19 and has the proper certification to prove it.

Travellers can obtain a COVID-19 recovery certificate from a medical professional. Once they have this, they are able to apply to the Department of Health for an exemption to SA’s entry, re-entry and quarantine rules.

“If you are unable to produce a negative PCR test result due to having recently recovered from a Covid-19 infection and wish to travel to South Africa (SA), you must send a request to the department for a letter of exemption. This is only applicable to travellers who have fully recovered and intend to travel within 90 days of the initial PCR test result that confirmed the infection,”

The Department noted in a travel update on 31 January

Travellers who want to apply for this document need the following:

• A copy of their passport.
• The PCR test result confirming their initial infection.
• A letter from a medical practitioner confirming that they have fully recovered, are not experiencing any new symptoms, and are fit to travel.
• The request with supporting documentation must be sent to porthealth.travel@health.gov.za.

By: Reeshni Chaslyn Chetty