The South African government on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of imposing travel ban due to the spread of coronavirus, at least for now.
Decision to put restrictions on the movement and gathering of people is one that cannot be taken lightly, the Ministry of Health said in response of growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19.
“It (travel ban) will require extensive consultation, on an urgent basis, to ensure that safety of citizens is placed at the forefront of deliberations whilst we weigh up the consequences of such measures,” the ministry said in a statement.
As such, South Africa is not yet at a stage to make major announcements on any types of restriction or travel bans, however South Africans must be assured that the matters are currently being deliberated and will require a cabinet decision, said the statement.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has maintained that there is no restriction with travel or trade with China since the outbreak, the statement said.
South Africa has reported seven confirmed cases of Covid-19, all of them being infected from a recent trip to Italy. All the patients are currently in isolation facilities where they are being treated, and all contacts have been traced and are being tested, according to the Ministry of Health.
