Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kampala (March 31, 2020)

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kampala (March 31, 2020)

Location: Uganda

Event:  Qatar Flight Available Online for U.S. Citizens

The Qatar Airways flight for Friday April 3, 2020 is now available online for booking by U.S. citizens with a final destination of Washington DC Dulles International Airport (IAD) in the United States. Please book online immediately if you hope to catch this flight. Qatar Airways is aware that the online booking mechanism is having frequent technical difficulties. Keep trying on the website until you are successful. This is not a U.S. government controlled flight, nor is it a charter flight. The flight is controlled by Qatar Airways and subject to their rules and cancellation policies. The U.S. government does not plan to evacuate U.S. citizens from Uganda. This may be the last flight out of Uganda for the immediate future.

Given the significant impact of President Museveni’s new measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, including the prohibition of personal vehicles, Qatar Airways has experienced significant problems with finalizing this flight. Currently, booking online is the only mechanism to reserve a seat on this flight.

If you are able to successfully book the flight but you need assistance in order to secure permission to transport yourself to the airport, please send an email with the subject line: Travel Permission Needed

Background:

On March 22, President Museveni announced a number of new measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, including a two-week ban on the use of all personal transportation, the closing of all non-food businesses, and a national curfew from 19h00 until daylight hours, among other restrictions.

There are 44 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Uganda.

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Global COVID-19 Outbreak Notice.

Actions to Take:

Visit the Government of Uganda website on COVID-19
Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis 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 our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Uganda.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States