SA ready to contain coronavirus should threat arise: Zweli Mkhize
Health officials say South Africa's been put on its highest alert level as they closely monitor the spread of the coronavirus overseas.
There have been no reports of cases in South Africa.
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Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the country's hospitals and facilities are prepared to deal with the virus that's claimed the lives of at least 132 people in China.
He says the National Institute for Communicable Diseases has established a National Emergency Centre.
"The emergency operations centre is on high alert. The stage at which we are in is the highest we can every be at if we are dealing with the kind of reports we are facing right now," he says.
Mkhize briefed the media this morning on the country's response plan.
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He says there are hospitals in Gauteng and other parts of the county that are equipped to manage and control the virus.
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Meanwhile, Indonesia's Lion Air Group airline and British Airways have both suspended all their flights to and from China, temporarily.
The Japanese automaker, Toyota says it'll keep its factories there closed for at least a week and a half.
In Wuhan, where the outbreak emerged, authorities are rushing to build two field hospitals by next week to ease the pressure on medical facilities in the city.
Public transport has been stopped in a total of 18-Chinese cities.
Residents in Wuhan have been urged to remain in their homes.
