Ramaphosa Closes Borders To ‘High-risk Countries’ as Coronavirus Spreads

Charles Molele

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a raft of measures on Sunday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, including imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from ‘high-risk countries’ such as Germany, Italy, China and the United States.

In his address to the nation following a special Cabinet meeting, Ramaphosa also declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.

 “We have now declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act,” said Ramaphosa.

“Cabinet held a special meeting earlier today. We have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country and reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy.”

Ramaphosa said as part of major interventions to protect more South Africans from the deadly virus, government decided to impose travel ban on foreign nationals from