Question NW302 to the Minister of Health
04 June 2020 - NW302
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Health
Whether his department has measures in place to screen and prevent persons with the coronavirus from entering the Republic through the (a) border posts and (b)(i) air and (ii) sea ports; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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.