Location: Cabo Verde
Event: “State of Calamity” Extended Through October 31
On September 2, the Government of Cabo Verde extended the “State of Calamity” for the islands of Santiago and Sal and implemented the measure for the island of Fogo until October 31. Social distancing measures remain in place for all of Cabo Verde, including the mandatory use of face coverings in indoor public spaces where other people are present.
As of August 1 there are four flights per week from Praia (Nelson Mandela International Airport – RAI) and three flights per week from Mindelo (Cesária Évora International Airport – VXE) to Portugal operated by TAP. The flights are open to individuals traveling for “essential” reasons. Travelers on these flights must present a negative COVID-19 PCR-RT test that was administered within 72 hours of the flight’s departure to gain entry to Cabo Verde or Portugal.
As of September 2, there were 545 active COVID-19 cases in Cabo Verde.
“State of Calamity” and Required Use of Face Coverings
On September 2, the Government of Cabo Verde extended the “State of Calamity” designation for the islands of Santiago and Sal and implemented the designation for Fogo until October 31. The updated designation places certain restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, including time restrictions on restaurant operations as well as beach access in certain areas. Additionally, under Cabo Verdean law, all individuals are required to wear a face covering in indoor spaces where other people are present. Facial coverings when outdoors are highly recommended but are not legally mandated. U.S. citizens are reminded that all Cabo Verdean laws and regulations apply to them, and they could be arrested or fined for failure to abide accordingly.
Food and supplies are being delivered to all islands, and DHL continues to facilitate international shipping. Please visit local pharmacies to refill necessary medications and arrange shipment of any required items from the United States.
International Flights
As of August 1 there are four flights per week from Praia (Nelson Mandela International Airport – RAI) and three flights per week from Mindelo (Cesária Évora International Airport – VXE) to Portugal operated by TAP. The flights are open to individuals traveling for “essential” reasons, which include business, family, education, or professional purposes. Tourism is not considered an “essential” reason.
Travelers on these flights must present results from a negative COVID-19 PCR-RT test administered within 72 hours of the flight’s departure to gain entry to Cabo Verde or Portugal. Please contact the airline directly to book a reservation and confirm details regarding COVID-19 testing requirements.
The Government of Cabo Verde has not announced when commercial flights will resume or any requisite health screenings.
Inter-island Travel
As of July 15, inter-island passenger flights and maritime transportation resumed between all islands. For available flights, please visit https://www.ticv.cv. For the latest ferry schedule, please visit https://www.cvinterilhas.cv/routesschedules.
Passengers traveling from the islands of Sal, Santiago, and Fogo are required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to flight departure and present a declaration showing a negative test result at the time of check-in. All passengers are also required to fill out a Health Surveillance Survey prior to departure.
COVID-19 Testing
U.S. citizens requiring a COVID-19 PCR-RT test for international travel should contact their nearest health delegation.
U.S. citizens requiring a rapid test for inter-island travel should contact their nearest health delegation or a private lab. The cost for a rapid test is generally less than $2,000 CVE (approximately $20 USD).
COVID-19 Cases in Cabo Verde
As of September 2, Cabo Verde had 4,048 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including on Boa Vista (61), Sal (604), Santiago (3,186), Santo Antão (7), Sao Nicolau (64), São Vicente (24), Fogo (100) and Maio (2) of which 543 were active. Only the island of Brava has not recorded a confirmed case. Additional information is available at https://covid19.cv.
STEP and Emergency Consular Services
Announcements with new health and travel information for U.S. citizens and LPRs overseas are shared via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which is the Embassy’s primary means for communicating this information to American citizens, as well as on the Embassy’s internet site and Facebook page. We urge any U.S. citizen or LPR seeking assistance to enroll in STEP as soon as possible, or ensure that their current enrollment remains up to date, so that they have immediate access to the latest information.
Effective March 19, 2020, U.S. Embassy Praia has suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizen Services and visa services, please visit our website for additional information, or contact us at PraiaConsular@state.gov.
The U.S. Department of State updated the Travel Advisory for Cabo Verde on August 6 to “Level 3: Do not travel to Cabo Verde due to COVID-19.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Global COVID-19 Outbreak Notice (“Avoid Nonessential Travel – Widespread Ongoing Transmission”).
Note: This information will continue to be sent regularly for the benefit of new registrants in STEP. Should you wish to stop receiving these updates, please send an email to PraiaConsular@state.gov requesting to be removed from STEP enrollment.
Actions to Take:
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates from the Embassy.
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- Consider What the U.S. Government Can and Can’t Do for Citizens in a Crisis.
- View President Trump’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America.
- 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 airline, cruise line, or travel operator regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Cabo Verde.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Praia
Rua Abilio Macedo 6
Praia, Cabo Verde
Phone: (+238) 260-8900
PraiaConsular@state.gov
https://cv.usembassy.gov/
State Department – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
Cabo Verde Country Information
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