Brazzaville announced on Wednesday March 4 that "Any passenger from countries at risk will be quarantined upon arrival in the Republic of Congo" to fight the coronavirus, citing five countries: France, Italy, China, South Korea and Iran.
But the passengers of the Air France flight from Paris which landed at 6:20 p.m. (5:20 p.m. GMT) Wednesday at Brazzaville airport "Were able to go out normally after a usual medical check-up", a source familiar with the matter told AFP.
"The 65 passengers disembarked this evening all returned home just after a briefing, confirmed an airport source. Only a woman at high temperature (for taking a hepatitis B vaccine) has been detained for observation and should be released normally after screening. "
The quarantine project was transmitted during the day by the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the embassies in Brazzaville. "Covid-19 tests will be performed on all passengers", we read in the circular of which the AFP has obtained a copy.
"If the results are negative, the passengers remain in quarantine for 14 days, the incubation period, adds the note. If the results are positive, the passengers are taken care of, in accordance with the procedures in place. "
Oil and construction sites
List of countries "Is likely to evolve according to the appearance of new cases in other countries". No date of entry into force was specified.
Representatives of the French Embassy and Air France "Were all at the airport", Wednesday at the arrival of the flight from Paris, said the airport source.
Of the five countries at risk targeted by Brazzaville, only France is linked by direct flights to the Congo. Air France operates nine weekly flights, five of which are to Pointe-Noire, the economic capital, and four to Brazzaville.
The French group Total is the leading oil company in the Pointe-Noire region, followed by far by the Italian Eni.
China, its companies and its workforce are very present in the Congo, in many infrastructure projects (buildings, roads, bridges) pre-financed by Beijing.
