Self-quarantine provisions

31 Jul 2020 / South Africa

The Health Directions published under Government Gazette No. 43533, Government Notice No. 796 of 17 July 2020 have been amended to allow returning persons to undergo their mandatory quarantine in their own place of residence, provided they adhere to outlined conditions…

…Travellers requesting to be self-quarantined will submit applications directly to the department 72 hours before their intended travel using an application form. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will make the application form available to the traveller as part of the current processes followed for travel approvals. The form will also be made available on the departmental website for download. Once the application for self-quarantine has been approved, the traveler will be informed in writing of the approval. Approval for self-quarantine does not imply approval to travel. The existing approval processes for requesting travel to the country must still be followed.

Travellers who will need to undertake domestic travel to their residence of self-quarantine may be permitted to do so if they are in possession of a domestic air travel ticket.

Diplomats, officials of international organisations (e.g. United Nations, African Union, Southern African Development Community, World Food Programme, International Committee of the Red Cross etc.) and their families who have been granted entry into the country are also permitted to self-quarantine on arrival and must be in possession of written communication indicating such.

Procedures to be followed

  • Travellers are required to submit their completed application to [email protected].
  • Upon receipt of the application for self- quarantined, it will be assessed by officials in the department and the outcome communicated to the applicant.
  • A list of all persons who have been granted approval for self-quarantine will be communicated to port health prior their arrival.
  • On arrival at the point of entry, all travellers must be screened.
  • The traveller must produce the written approval of self-quarantine to the port health official.
  • Persons who arrive at the point of entry without any approval must be placed under quarantine at a state identified facility using the current system of informing the Department of Public Works through the Border Security and Travel Restrictions Workstream.
  • No approvals will be granted on arrival at the port of entry, applicants must submit their requests within the stipulated time-frame.
  • Port health must ensure that only travellers in possession of a self-quarantine approval are allowed to proceed to their place of residence.
  • Port Health must coordinate with the port authority to identify a designated area where transportation of the repatriates who will be under self-quarantine will be picked up where required.
  • Port health must engage port stakeholders to ensure they are informed of the amended Directions and the changes to the quarantine provisions.

Regional Directors are requested to communicate the contents of this communique to all port health officials to ensure smooth implementation of processes.

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at [email protected])

Source: Republic of South Africa department of Health letter dated 24 July 2020

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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