16 March 2020 – Public Health Authority releases further travel advice

Type of Intervention: Advisory
Sectors Involved: Health
Intervention Categories: International travel measures
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: National Health Commissioner

Overview: Furthermore, The Public Health Authority also continues to reinforce these general travel measures for travelers to other countries to adopt:
• avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness;
• observe good personal hygiene;
• practice frequent hand washing with soap (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);
• wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or runny nose;
• avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw and undercooked meats;
• cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately and wash hands or use alcohol based hand sanitisers;
• all travelers should monitor their health closely for two weeks upon return to Seychelles and seek medical attention promptly if feeling unwell, and also inform their doctor of their travel history;
• if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose), you should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.

Full details here: http://www.health.gov.sc/index.php/2020/03/16/public-health-authority-issues-new-travel-advisory/

Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Advice of EXTERNAL expert advisor or advisory committee, Perception of an increased threat to the country
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – government
Evidence/Justification: The global outbreak of novel coronavirus has had over 20,000 confirmed cases in 23 countries. Most of the are scattered across China but mainly Hubei Province. Out of the countries with confirmed cases, six caseshave had travel history to China. And, new cases continue to be registered daily in China despite strict
measures in put in place.
In consideration of the situation and possible impact on Seychelles the Public Health Authority is issuing the following update to the travel advisory: