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South Africa to reopen borders to most countries on Oct 1

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A passenger is seen at the South African Airways customer desk after SAA announced an immediate suspension of all intercontinental flights in response to a travel ban aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak, at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday that borders will reopen to most countries next month, as the country further eases anti-coronavirus measures.

“We will gradually and cautiously ease restrictions on international travel… allowing travel into and out of South Africa for business, leisure and other travel with effect from the 1st of October 2020,” Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation.

“Travel may be restricted to and from certain countries that have high infection rates.”

This comes as the President announced that South Africa will moved to Level 1 of the lockdown.

Cabinet decided on Wednesday that the country should move to alert Level 1, starting midnight on Sunday, 20 September 2020.

“This move recognises that levels of infection are relatively low and that there is sufficient capacity in our health system to manage the current need,” Ramaphosa said.

The country will gradually and cautiously ease restrictions on international travel.

“We will be allowing travel into and out of South Africa for business, leisure and other travel with effect from 1 October 2020,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa said the curfew hours will now apply between midnight and 4am.

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