The South African government has on Monday announced it will close all its land borders in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus in the country.
Making the announcement, the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised address said the land borders will be closed to most travellers until 15 February, saying that the pandemic in South Africa is currently at its most devastating, with infection numbers far exceeding the peak experienced in the first wave.
Ramaphosa said there have been nearly 190,000 reported infections since New Year’s Day, and there are currently more than 15,000 persons in hospital with COVID-19.
South Africa has the highest number of infections in the African continent with more than a million cases.
On Monday, the country recorded 15,046 new cases and 416 deaths, bringing the total cases to 1,246,643 and fatalities to 33,579 respectively.
According to the president, 20 million doses of the vaccine had already been secured, for delivery in the coming months, and that negotiations are ongoing with a number of different manufacturers.
He added that the vaccine programme that South Africa plans to undertake will be the most ambitious logistical project in the country’s history.
The province of KwaZulu Natal has seen the most cases per head of population in recent weeks, but Ramaphosa said infection numbers in Gauteng are growing exponentially and are expected to increase further as travellers return from their holidays.
On Monday, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has become the fourth member of the executive to test positive for coronavirus after displaying symptoms.
The presidency said he has gone into quarantine along with everyone who came into close contact with him.
