The United States will lift restrictions against individuals travelling from eSwatini and seven other southern African countries starting on December 31, according to a proclamation issued by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Biden said individuals traveling from Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe would be allowed to enter the US starting on Friday.
“This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2021,” Biden said.
Travellers would, however, still need to abide by US COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements to travel to the country.
The US travel ban has been effective since the end of November when South African scientists announced the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
JN/APA