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- The digital travel health questionnaire, which will be launched on December 15, seeks to replace paper forms.
- As part of a phased approach, visitors entering the country through the OR Tambo International Airport and The Beitbridge land border post will need to complete this web-based platform.
- Travelers can access the website via smartphone or desktop browser.
- Digital registration must be completed within 48 hours prior to arrival in South Africa.
- For more stories, visit www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
International travelers entering South Africa will soon be able to complete a Travel Digital Health Questionnaire (THQ) before arriving at a point of entry. This electronic control program, which will be launched on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, aims to alleviate congestion at both airports and land entry points.
Announced by the health department in response to problems caused by paper forms, the Covid SA travel system allows visitors to complete a digital questionnaire, either on their mobile phones or desktop web browsers, up to 48 hours before entering South Africa. .
Once sent, the digital THQ will be verified by the Port Health Officer. If approved, travelers will receive a unique identification code that they must present at the point of entry. Importantly, international visitors will still need to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test result and undergo temperature tests upon arrival.
While the initial launch of the digital THQ program will complement the paper submission process, the health department has signaled its intention to make the use of this platform mandatory for those entering and leaving South Africa, beginning with four main transit points. .
International travelers entering South Africa through the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and through the Beitbridge land border will need to complete the web-based THQ from December 17, 2020 onwards.
Likewise, those departing from Cape Town International Airport or through the Maseru Bridge land border will need to complete the digital exit questionnaire.
For now, all other entry and exit points will depend on the paper questionnaire.
According to the details of the pilot program, the digital THQ will eventually be rolled out to all international airports and land border posts. Sea voyages are also flagged on the web-based platform, with ports in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay and East London listed as potential points of entry.
The information required by Covid SA Travel System reflects that of the paper forms. Basic personal information, including the traveler’s flight details and accommodation plans, should be noted in the fields provided.
Travelers will also need to disclose their travel and health history, with specific questions related to Covid-19 symptoms that make up the bulk of the latest screening process.
The health department has emphasized the importance of securing personal information and says that all details provided through the digital THQ will comply with the Personal Information Protection Act (POPI).
“The security of personal information was a top priority during the development of this system,” the department said. “The Covid SA travel system provides us with additional armor to better manage and survey travelers to prevent the import and export of the virus.”
In addition to speeding up and replacing the cumbersome storage complexities associated with the paper system, this digital solution uses an algorithm to automatically determine a traveler’s personal risk profile.
(Compiled by Luke Daniel)
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