SA announces raft of measures to fight coronavirus

South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a raft of measures to fight coronavirus which has now got 61 confirmed cases as of Sunday.

The measures announced are as follows

• It has been declared a national disaster
• Public gatherings of more than 100 have been banned
• Public events like Human Rights Day have been cancelled
• Schools will close from 18 March until after Easter.
• Government is imposing a travel ban from travelers coming in from high risk areas that include China, Germany, Italy, South Korea etc.
• Visa issuing to visitors from these countries is cancelled from today and previously granted visas are hereby revoked.
•  SA residents coming from these countries will be intensively screened.
• President #Ramaphosa: Travellers from medium-risk countries – such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore – will be required to undergo high intensity screening.
•  South Africa has 72 ports of entry in the country which are land, sea and air ports. Of the 53 land ports, 35 will be shut down with effect from Monday 16 March. 2 of the 8 sea ports will be closed for passengers and crew changes.
• All travellers who have entered South Africa from high-risk countries since mid-February will be required to present themselves for testing.
• Effective immediately, South African citizens are advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, United States, United Kingdom and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran and South Korea.  
• Domestic travel is discouraged
• Hygiene control should be bolstered across businesses and private enterprise
• Government strengthening surveillance systems – including tracking, tracing & monitoring. (Oi!)
•  Increasing capacity at hospitals.

For Zimbabwe, that means you can’t go to or from those countries through SA really.

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