Question NW302 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

Yes, measures are in place to screen and respond to persons suspected of Corona Virus (COVID-19) from entering the Republic at border posts, this includes air, sea and land ports of entry.

	(a) Port of Entry	Screening Conducted
Land Ports
1	Kopfontein	Yes
2	Ramatlabama	Yes
3	Skilpadshek	Yes
4	Groblersbrug	Yes
5	Nakop	Yes
6	Vioolsdrift	Yes
7	Beitbridge	Yes
8	Ficksburg	Yes
9	Maseru	Yes
10	Caledonspoort	Yes
11	Van Rooyensgate	Yes
12	Qasha’s Nek	Yes
13	Lebombo	Yes
14	Kosi Bay	Yes
15	Oshoek	Yes
16	Mahamba	Yes
17	Mananga	Yes
18	Jeppes Reef	Yes
19	Golela	Yes
b(i) Airports
20	OR Tambo International Airport	Yes
21	Cape Town International Airport	Yes
22	King Shaka International Airport	Yes
23	Lanseria International Airport	Yes
24	Port Elizabeth International Airport	Yes
25	Waterkloof Airforce Base	Yes
26	Gateway International Airport	Yes
27	Pilansberg International Airport	Yes
28	Bram Fischer International Airport	Yes
29	Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport	Yes
30	Upington International Airport	Yes
b(ii) Seaports
31	Durban Harbour	Yes
32	Richardsbay Harbour	Yes
33	Cape Town Harbour	Yes
34	Port Elizabeth Harbour	Yes
35	Port of Nqcura	Yes
36	East London Harbour	Yes

END.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MINISTER

Measures are in place to screen and respond to persons suspected of Corona Virus (COVID-19) from entering the Republic at border posts, this includes air, sea and land ports of entry.

The department has employed officials as Port Health Officials (PHOs) deployed at ports of entry to early detect a traveller who may be infected with COVID-19. The measures implemented to ensure early detection are as follows:

1. Land Borders

Health officials conduct an interview with operator to determine if a sick passenger is onboard. If sick passenger/s is onboard/identified, health officials conducts interview with sick passenger . If found that passenger/s displayed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and consistent with the case definition, passenger/s are kept in isolation and transported to a designated health facility by ambulance.

2. Airports

Screening measures for airports are three, done in a three-phased approach :

• The recieval and analyses of documentation signed by the conveyance operator, declaring if any sick passenger/s are onboard the aircraft, which is in line with requirements of the International Health Regulations (2005).
• The interview of crew members before disembarkation to confirm whether any sick passengers are onboard.
• In line with WHO and International Civil Aviation Authority (IATA), pilots must inform the port of entry of arrival beforehand of any sick passenger onboard.

If any sick passenger/s are onboard an aircraft, PHO’s will be notified and screening of travellers conducted before disembarkation. Screening includes conducting interviews and medical assessment of sick traveller/s and identifying contacts. The sick passenger/s is/are then transported to a designated health facility by ambulance if found to be displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

3. Sea Ports

Ship operators apply for pratique(permission granted to a ship to enter a port after declaring a clean bill of health of all on board) to port health before docking on the Republic’s shore. If the Captain indicates there is a sick passenger onboard, Port Health notifies Emergency Medical Services and the designated health facility. On arrival prior to disembarkation, health officials conduct interviews and medical assessment of sick traveller/s and contacts identified. The sick passenger is then transported to a designated health facility by ambulance if found to be displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

Though the Health measures have been increased to deal with the current Public Health Emergency of International Concern it is important to note that Port Health Services are rendered on an ongoing basis even outside of Public Health Emergency of International Concern, what has been provided for is an increase of existing measures through addition of resources and modification in operational screening activities.

END.