South Africa announces travel restrictions to combat COVID-19

Cyril Ramaphosa the South Africa’s President addressed the nation Sunday evening to announce “urgent and drastic measures” to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Ramaphosa also declared a “national state of disaster” for South Africa and said the country was now dealing with internal transmission of the virus.

“There can be no half measures,” he said.

Ramaphosa announced that travel will be prohibited from the following high-risk countries: Italy; Iran; South Korea; Spain; Germany; US; United Kingdom and China starting March 18.

Existing visas from citizens of those countries will also be cancelled. Any foreigner who visited high risk countries in the past twenty days will also be denied a visa.

Effective immediately, South African citizens are also 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.

South African government officials are barred from international travel as well.