Location: São Tomé and Príncipe
Event: State of Emergency Extended
On May 31, the Sao Tomean government announced that the State of Emergency has been extended until June 15. The Council of Ministers has put into place the following modified confinement measures:
1) A mandatory curfew will remain in effect from 6:30 pm to 5:00 am. Exemptions exist for necessary workers including those in the fields of health, defense, law enforcement, the media, members of the government, essential officials of diplomatic missions, and justified emergency cases.
2) Pharmacies, gas stations, and bakeries may operate from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. Other commercial entities, such as service companies, construction companies, commercial banks, and take away restaurants, may operate between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm. The use of masks is mandatory. Employees and customers must respect social distancing and alcohol gel or a sink must be available for handwashing.
3) Government offices will be open from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm. The use of masks is mandatory. Employees and those seeking services must respect social distancing and alcohol gel or a sink must be available for handwashing.
4) Markets will be open from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, with alternating closures on Sundays. The use of masks by vendors and customers is mandatory. Employees and customers must respect social distancing and a sink must be available at the market entrance.
5) Masks are mandatory on public roads and in all places of public service.
6) Taxis may operate at 50% of their official capacity. Driver and all passengers must wear masks. Motorcycle taxi service drivers and passengers must wear masks. Masks are also required for drivers and passengers in private and service vehicles unless the driver is sole occupant of the vehicle.
7) Groups of more than four people are prohibited from gathering on public roads.
8) Funeral attendance is limited to 20 people. Funerals for victims of COVID-19 will be overseen by the local government.
These restrictions are in addition to previously announced measures, including the closing of bars and clubs, the suspension of public and private school classes, bans on religious gatherings and meetings of more than 10 people, and the suspension of international and domestic flights except for special humanitarian flights.
The Embassy encourages all U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so that they will receive alerts and messages from the Embassy.
On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure from any diplomatic or consular post in the world of U.S. personnel and family members who have been medically determined to be at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19.
Effective March 16, U.S. Embassy Libreville has suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizens Services, including emergency passports, please visit our website for additional information.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- 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 airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Gabon.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Libreville, Gabon
Sablière, BP 4000
Libreville, Gabon
(241) 011-45-71-00
LibrevilleACS@state.gov
https://ga.usembassy.gov/ - State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 - Gabon Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
