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| Coronavirus: African states impose strict restrictions | Coronavirus: African states impose strict restrictions |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Several African states have imposed far-reaching restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. | Several African states have imposed far-reaching restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. |
| South Africa has closed its borders to nationals of the worst-affected countries and banned large public gatherings, while Kenya has also imposed sweeping travel restrictions. | South Africa has closed its borders to nationals of the worst-affected countries and banned large public gatherings, while Kenya has also imposed sweeping travel restrictions. |
| The measures are an attempt to prevent a major outbreak on a continent with poor health services. | The measures are an attempt to prevent a major outbreak on a continent with poor health services. |
| At least 26 African states have so far been affected by the virus. | At least 26 African states have so far been affected by the virus. |
| Most of the confirmed cases involve people arriving from Europe and North America. | Most of the confirmed cases involve people arriving from Europe and North America. |
| But South Africa imposed the most severe restrictions on its citizens since the end of white-minority rule after reporting its first local transmission. | But South Africa imposed the most severe restrictions on its citizens since the end of white-minority rule after reporting its first local transmission. |
| In an address to the nation on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national disaster as the number of cases rose to 61. | In an address to the nation on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national disaster as the number of cases rose to 61. |
| "Initially, it was people who had travelled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus," he said. | "Initially, it was people who had travelled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus," he said. |
| "It is concerning that we are now dealing with internal transmission of the virus," Mr Ramaphosa said. | "It is concerning that we are now dealing with internal transmission of the virus," Mr Ramaphosa said. |
| More on Africa and the virus: | More on Africa and the virus: |
| What else has South Africa done? | |
| Mr Ramaphosa said he would chair a government command council that would "coordinate all aspects of our extraordinary emergency response". | |
| Among the measures he announced are: |