Measures announced by South Africa to combat the spread of Novel Coronavirus

On Sunday the 15 March 2020, The President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to combat the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid 19)  in South Africa after a special cabinet meeting.

These include:

• Declaring a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
• A travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China.
• Discouraging all non-essential domestic travel, particularly by air, rail, taxis and bus.
• Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited.
• Mass celebrations of upcoming national days such as Human Rights Day and other large government events are cancelled.
• Schools will be closed from Wednesday, 18 March, and will remain closed until after the Easter Weekend. (Mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week).
• Visits to all correctional centres (prisons) are suspended for 30 days immediately.

We are also encouraged to do the following:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or into your flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.

Read President Cyril Ramaphosa’s full statement on on measures to combat COVID-19 epidemic.

For more information on the coronavirus in the Western Cape visit The WCG Department of Health.

For national information on the Novel Coronavirus visit the SA Government

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Useful information for parents:

Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (via the World Health Organisation)

Related: Up-to-date and official information on the Coronavirus in #WesternCape

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