South Africa declares national state of disaster on coronavirus

South Africa declared a national state of disaster, halted inbound flights from countries worst affected by the coronavirus, shut schools and banned public gatherings of more than 100 people in a bid to contain the spread of the disease.

The government is finalising a package of measures to minimise the effect of the virus on the economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Sunday in a televised address to the nation after an emergency cabinet meeting.

“We have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country and to an reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy,” he said. “There can be no half measures.”

South Africa has had 61 confirmed Covid-19 cases to date, and the bulk of infected traveled to other countries previously hit by the pandemic. Health authorities expect it is only a matter of time before local transmissions increase, and aim to minimise and slow those as much as possible to alleviate the impact on an already overburdened public health system.

Flights from the US, UK, China, Italy, Germany South Korea and Spain will be stopped, while 35 land ports of entry will be shut, Ramaphosa said. Schools will be closed from March 18 until after the Easter weekend.

© 2020 Bloomberg