The Portuguese government announced this Friday, the resumption of essential flights with Mozambique and the rest of the Southern African countries.

According to dispatch of the portuguese governmentThe resumption of flights must observe control measures for the new covid-19 variant, Omicron, which is spreading rapidly around the world.

"Authorize essential travel to and from South Africa, Botswana, Essuatíni, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Passengers will now be required to perform two Covid-19 tests, one on boarding and another on disembarkation, already in Portugal, and will also have to undergo a mandatory quarantine of 14 days, at home or at a place indicated by the health authorities," reads an order published on the Portuguese government portal.

Still, the document states that this prophylactic isolation may cease for those who have tested negative on a nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) or rapid antigen test (TRAg performed on day 3.

According to the document, the measure is also applicable, with the necessary adaptations, to citizens who enter Portuguese territory by sea or land.

It should be noted that flights to and from Mozambique had been suspended until January 9 as part of measures to combat the covid-19 pandemic.

The Portuguese government, however, has announced non-essential travel from Brazil, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom.