Egypt will allow travellers who have taken full doses of approved novel coronavirus vaccines to enter without taking a PCR test, the health ministry said on Thursday.
Travellers must present QR-coded certificates that they have received their full doses of one of six Covid-19 vaccines approved by Egypt and the WHO at least two weeks before their arrival.
Those from countries impacted by coronavirus variants will be subject to a rapid test upon arrival, while all non-vaccinated travellers must present a PCR test.
On Thursday, Egypt reported 466 new coronavirus cases, bringing its total to 278 761. However, officials and experts say the real number of infections is far higher but is not reflected in government figures because of low testing rates and the exclusion of private test results.
Egypt lifted many restrictions at the beginning of the month and is hoping to attract visitors this year as tourism usually accounts for 15% of its gross domestic product.
Meanwhile, according to Skyscanner's live interactive map, South Africans can travel to 42 destinations enforcing low restrictions, compared to the nine in March. They are allowed to travel to the destination and are not likely to quarantine when they arrive at /from the destination.
These countries include most African countries like Namibia, Kenya, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Egypt, Chad, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Elsewhere, SA travellers can visit Serbia, Mexico, Ecuador, Ukraine, Costa Rica and Venezuela.
(Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad, writing by Nafisa Eltahir; editing by Jason Neely)