 to BIF 60,000 ($30).){kind=link}
Burundi has increased the covid-19 certificate charges for travellers using Melchior Ndadaye international airport by 500 percent. The government has revised the rates from initial BIF 10,000 ($5) to BIF 60,000 ($30).
“Testing is expensive. The Government wants those who can afford to pay If one can pay a flight ticket of $1000 he cannot fail to pay for the certificate of less than $50,” Thaddee Ndikumana Burundi’s minister for health.
Since the re-opening of Melchior Ndadaye International Airport flights passengers flying in and out of the country require the covid-19 certificate have been mandatory.
“Contrary to the Burundians who go for voluntary tests with no objective to leave the country testing is free of charge,” he added.
According to the government Burundian nationals who enter the country and test positive will pay hospital facilities and quarantine charges for the period of seven days.
However those who undergo tests in the mass campaign if tested positive for covid-19, the government will take up the charges.
“For Burundian coming in, even if they have been vaccinated in their host countries they must abide by the rules as they have to be tested and undergo a mandatory 7day quarantine,” said the health minister.
Official statistics indicate that Brussels Airlines takes the lead of imported covid-19 cases with 2.4% followed by Rwanda Air 2.1%, Ethiopian Airlines 2.0%, Kenya Airways1.5% Uganda Air 1.1% and UN flights registered a 0.7%.
In meantime, the country kicked off a second mass testing two weeks ago where over 30,000 tests have been conducted.
Currently over 600 people tested positive for covid-19 while 170 have been discharged and 270 are under treatment, with two fatalities.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, Burundi is the only country in the East African Community where covid-19 certificate is less expensive ($30) compared to other member states.
Kenya and Tanzania charge $100 while Rwanda charges $60 and Uganda $50).