South Africans must seek permission to visit Ebola-striken countries

Jacob-Zuma

South Africans must seek permission to visit Ebola-striken countries

Posted by: Rilwan

South Africans  wishing  to travel to and from high risk Ebola virus countries are now required to first seek permission from the national department of health, the South African Airways (SAA) said yesterday.

 ”All travellers between South Africa and the Ebola high-risk areas in West Africa must follow the new procedures introduced for the airlines aimed at ensuring compliance with a recent cabinet decision.

“The measures are effective as we speak,” said SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

Government has previously advised South Africans to avoid all non-essential travel to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone but new procedures now state that all travellers intending to visit these areas must get permission.

Permission to travel can be sought from the national Department of Health.

Applicants are expected to supply :Full personal details, including residential addresses of South African citizens or in the case of non-South Africans, the address of residence while in South Africa (ie, hotel, etc.);next of kin details in the case of South African citizens;full details of the reasons for travel to or from South Africa;and the traveller must complete a Traveller Health Questionnaire and submit it with the request to travel

A written response from the national department of health will be provided informing the applicant of the outcome of their request to travel.

However, travel restrictions do not apply to Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Senegal that SAA flies to in West Africa.

“None of them fall under high-risk category. Our schedule to those destinations remains unaffected,” explained Tlali.

Last week, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that South Africa has taken the decision to impose a total travel ban for all non-citizens travelling from identified high risk countries to limit the spread of Ebola to the country, unless the travel is considered absolutely essential.

He said citizens of South Africa who wish to travel to these countries will be requested to delay their travel unless it is also absolutely essential for them to travel.

Over 1 000 people have died from the virus in West Africa, according to the World Health Organisation. Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone have each declared the outbreak a national disaster.