People arriving from southern Africa will have to undergo testing and quarantine upon arrival in Luxembourg from Saturday Library photo: Anthony Dehez

People arriving from southern Africa will have to undergo testing and quarantine upon arrival in Luxembourg from Saturday Library photo: Anthony Dehez

Luxembourg on Friday said people travelling into the country from southern Africa will have to quarantine for seven days and undergo several PCR tests starting 27 November.

Virologists this week sounded alarm bells over a new variant of the coronavirus discovered in Botswana that is reportedly quickly spreading in southern Africa.

Several countries, including the UK and France, on Friday announced travel bans for South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Luxembourg did not follow the ban but introduced quarantine rules similar to those imposed against India earlier in the year aimed at mitigating the spread of the delta variant.

Anyone who has stayed in southern Africa up to two weeks before travelling to Luxembourg must get tested upon arrival and enter a seven-day quarantine, the government said. Only after a second negative PCR test at the end of this period, will they be able to move freely in the country.

People refusing either or both of the tests must quarantine for 14 days. 

The measure applies to all travellers regardless of their mode of transport. People must also register with health authorities ahead of time by contacting:  or 247-65533.

Transit passengers can be exempt from the quarantine rules.