(July 17, 2020)
Location: Cabo Verde
Event: Inter-island Transport Resumed
As of July 15, inter-island flights and maritime transport resumed between all islands. A negative COVID-19 test is required to travel from the islands of Santiago and Sal. As of July 17, there were 1,016 active COVID-19 cases in Cabo Verde. Cabo Verde remains under a “State of Calamity” and social distancing measures remain in place for all of Cabo Verde.
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 or Santiago 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.
Increased travel between islands may lead to increased cases. The government has established health cordons in some places to help isolate cases when that is feasible.
International Flights
The Government of Cabo Verde announced on June 23 that international commercial flights will not resume until at least August. (Please note that TAP is operating three humanitarian flights in July but has indicated that only EU citizens and residents will be permitted on these flights.)
The government has not yet finalized its policy on requiring testing and mandatory quarantine measures for international travelers arriving by air.
The U.S. Embassy in Praia does not anticipate organizing another repatriation flight to the United States. U.S. citizens remaining in Cabo Verde should be prepared to shelter in place for an indefinite period of time.
Required Use of Face Coverings and Availability of Supplies
Cabo Verde remains under a “State of Calamity” designation with certain restrictions on businesses and public areas, including restrictions on beach access and restaurant operations. Additionally, under Cabo Verdean law, all individuals outside their home are required to wear a face covering. 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.
COVID-19 Cases in Cabo Verde
As of July 17, Cabo Verde had 1,939 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including on Boa Vista (57), Sal (407), Santiago (1,426), Santo Antão (4), Sao Nicolau (30), São Vicente (13), and Maio (2) of which 1,016 were active. Only the islands of Fogo and Brava have 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, including emergency passports, please visit our website for additional information, or contact us at PraiaConsular@state.gov.
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 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.
