Cabinet bans travellers from high-risk Ebola countries

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The South African government has issued a travel ban against non-residents from Ebola-affected countries Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Cabinet has banned travellers from Ebola-hit Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia from entering South Africa unless they are returning citizens.

This was announced today (21 August) following a Cabinet briefing on Ebola by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

In addition, Cabinet has requested all South Africans who want to travel to the three high-risk countries to delay their travel “unless it is absolutely essential”.

South African citizens returning from these countries will have to undergo screening, including having their temperature taken – and possibly “a complete medical examination”.

Cabinet has allocated R32,5-million to efforts to “support containment and prevent further spread of the virus to South Africa and other countries”.

Part of this money will be used for a mobile laboratory in Sierra Leone and to fund transport and accommodation for the team running this and training for health care workers.

“Cabinet remains committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of all our citizens and requests the public to adhere to limited travel restrictions announced in this briefing,” according to a statement from Cabinet. – Health-e News Service.