COVID-19 regulations remain unchanged in South Africa, according to the Minister's announcement
In a media briefing held on Tuesday, 10 January 2023, South African Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla, announced that the country will not impose any special travel requirements for those coming from China. This decision comes in response to the surge in Covid-19 infections in China.
Minister Phaahla stated that South Africa's immunity from vaccination and natural resistance remains strong against the Omicron variant, which is currently the leading variant in China and globally. He added that they had been advised to boost the rate of testing in light of the situation.
The minister's advice was based on consultations with pastoral advisory boards and the World Health Organization in Geneva and the African regional office in Brazzaville. However, he did not provide any further details about the current situation in South Africa's healthcare facilities.
Reports of healthcare facilities and crematoriums in China being overwhelmed have caused panic in several parts of the world, including South Africa. Despite these concerns, South Africa will not re-introduce any inner curbs amidst the surge in Covid-19 infections in China.
As of August 2025, there is no publicly available information indicating that South Africa has imposed new travel restrictions on China due to the surge in Covid-19 infections. South African citizens should follow standard Chinese visa and entry requirements and monitor any local Chinese or South African government announcements for changes.
It's worth noting that China continues to offer visa on arrival under strict conditions, mainly single-entry visas valid for up to 30 days. General advisories from other countries emphasise high caution in China due to local law enforcement and political risks, not explicitly Covid-19 measures.
South African citizenship and travel policies have undergone recent changes in citizenship law, but these do not affect Covid-19-related travel restrictions. Broader travel warnings exist for various African countries, but South Africa itself is not listed among countries with new elevated travel restrictions affecting travel to China.
This article was not edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.
- Amidst rising concerns about healthcare facilities in China being overwhelmed, the South African Minister of Health advocates for a heightened testing rate, emphasizing the country's resilience against the Omicron variant.
- While South Africa has not imposed new travel restrictions on China, it advises citizens to adhere to standard visa and entry requirements, with a general caution for navigating China's political landscape, rather than specific Covid-19 measures.
