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Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Directions from the Department of Health to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19

17. Persons entering the Republic

 

(1) A person entering the Republic must be subjected to screening on arrival at the point of entry, including the completion of a traveller health questionnaire.

 

(2) A person who, during screening, is found to have had exposure to COVID-19 or is presenting with any signs and symptoms of COVID-19, must be subjected to a medical examination which may include testing and isolation.

 

(3) A person entering the Republic must on arrival at the point of entry, provide to the port health official the following:
(a) A completed Traveller Health Questionnaire; and
(b) a valid negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction test result, not older than 72 hours from the date of departure from the country of origin.

 

(4) A person who is not in possession of a valid negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction test result will be subjected to antigen testing at the point of entry and may be subjected to quarantine at an approved facility at his or her own cost.

 

(5) A person referred to in subparagraph (4) and who is subjected to quarantine—
(a) must, on arrival at the point of entry, complete and sign a written declaration committing to adhere to quarantine requirements;
(b) will be liable for all costs related to testing, quarantine and transportation.

 

(6) Persons entering the Republic are encouraged to install the COVID Alert SA mobile application on their mobile phones.

 

(7) A person who experiences any signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 whilst in the Republic, must seek medical attention and inform the medical practitioner of his or her travel history.

 

(8) The following category of persons are exempted from provisions of sub-paragraph (3)(b) but must comply with applicable entry requirements set out by the Department of Home Affairs;
(a) Daily commuters from neighbouring countries who attend or teach at a school in the Republic;
(b) Children below the age of five years;
(c) cross border freight operators;
(d) Airline crew and;
(e) Medical evacuation crew undertaking medical evacuations

 

(9) Cross border freight operators referred to in sub-paragraph (8) must on entry into the country, be subjected to antigen testing at the cost of the employer and such test result shall remain valid for 30 days.

 

(10) Frequent travellers must comply with sub-paragraph (3), but the initial test result presented on entry for subsequent travel remains valid for 14 days.

 

(11) A person referred to in sub-paragraphs (8) must adhere to COVID-19 health protocols and must—
(a) be subjected to screening protocols on arrival at the point of entry;
(b) complete the Traveller Health Questionnaire; and
(c) be subjected to a medical examination which may include testing, where necessary.

 

(12)
(a) Airline crew permitted to layover by the Department of Transport may do so at a facility identified by the employer and must inform port health of such facility.
(b) Monitoring of crew in the layover facility is the responsibility of the employer.

 

[Direction 17 substituted by section 2 of Notice No. 1360, GG44004, dated 15 December 2020]