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Travel Advisory Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Travel Advisory Level 2: Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information. Read More...
Health Alert: Possible Air France Flight on April 20, 2020
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13 MINUTE READ
April 15, 2020

Location:  Guinea

Event:  The U.S. government does not anticipate arranging additional repatriation flights from Guinea to the United States at this time. U.S. citizens who wish to depart Guinea should do so as soon as a commercial option is available or be prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. We will pass on any information we receive about possible special commercial flights, but the Embassy is not able to assist in booking these flights.

Any information we have regarding options to return to the United States will be send out via STEP messages, so if you have not done so, please register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.  This is the only way to receive up-to-date information about U.S. Embassy activities in Guinea.  The Smart Traveler Registration Program (STEP) is a free service that allows US citizens and US citizens traveling and residing abroad to register their trip with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. To register follow this link: http://step.state.gov/

Potential April 20 Flight from Conakry to Paris:  We understand that Air France has a flight scheduled to depart Conakry for Paris on April 20,  and will begin accepting reservations at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, April 16.  We strongly suggest that you book your entire trip back to the U.S. on Air France so the airline is assured of your onward travel.  You must have a confirmed ticket from Paris to the U.S. or you will not be allowed to board the flight in Conakry.  You will not be allowed to leave the departures area of the Paris airport.  French and EU citizens will be given priority on this flight. When Air France offered a flight on April 13, we understand the flight sold out in 2 hours.

The embassy cannot assist with this, you must contact Air France directly or through your travel agent.  The Air France site for Guinea is found here https://www.airfrance.com/gn.

Flights to the U.S. from Paris are available through Air France:

Daily direct flights to the United States are scheduled this week from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The daily flight alternates between New York JFK and Los Angeles. Book flights directly through Air France at https://www.airfrance.fr/en or https://www.airfrance.com/gn.  Flight availability is subject to further restrictions.

I need to transit through France to get home.  Will I be allowed to do that?

U.S. citizens are currently permitted to transit Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport only if they have a direct, onward flight to the United States.

You MUST have your entire, direct flight from Guinea to the U.S. booked and verifiable by the airline prior to being boarded for the flight to Paris.  In other words, when attempting to book a flight from Guinea to the United States via Paris, you would contact Air France to book the entire flight.

READ!!!!  Anyone transiting through France to reach the United States must have an attestation, available in French here, with the English version here.

You do not need, and we cannot offer, an endorsement from the Embassy for this attestation.  You must present this completed form to the airline before boarding your flight.

While in the Paris Airport:

Travelers are not permitted to leave the international zone and will not be admitted to France.  You will NOT be allowed to leave the departure area of the airport unless you are a French citizen. Food and other services in the transit area are extremely limited. Passengers should be prepared to be self-sufficient during their transit.

COVID-19 Related Information for Guinea:

The government of Guinea has reported 363 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March 12, 2020, and one death.

The government of Guinea has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and declared a Health State of Emergency which includes:

  • A curfew has been imposed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
  • Wearing of masks in public spaces is mandatory beginning on April 18.
  • Movement is limited to work, shopping for necessities, medical care, purchasing medicine or medical supplies,  and emergency situations only.
  • The Govt of Guinea has closed all land borders.
  • Mosques, churches, educational institutions, bars, cinemas, and other service industry businesses are ordered closed.
  • Any assembly is limited to 20 persons, and various passenger number limitations were also enacted for different types of vehicles.

The Gbessia International Airport in Conakry is closed to regular commercial traffic, and there are few current options for air travel into or out of Guinea.

Given the closure of airports and reduction of flight options worldwide, U.S. citizens should be prepared to remain outside the United States for an extended period, until commercial flights reopen.

Visit our website at https://gn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/ for additional information on these new measures.

On March 19, 2020 the Department of State issued a Level 4 Global Health Advisory to U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.

On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure from any diplomatic or consular post in the world of US personnel and family members who have been medically determined to be at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19.

U.S. government personnel in Guinea are teleworking to reduce the risk of transmission, have been ordered to maintain appropriate social distancing and leave their residences only for urgent matters,  cancelled all but urgent outside meetings, and directed that only critical in-person meetings be held internally.

In response to the ongoing global COVID-19 outbreak the Peace Corps has withdrawn all Peace Corps volunteers from Guinea.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Warning for COVID-19 advising travelers to avoid all non-essential travel. Actions to Take:

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