28/03/2020
Hi some useful SADC info below. Be safe out there:
Draft SADC Guidelines to Member States on Cross Border Transport during the Covid-19 Pandemic
1. Background
Domestic, interstate and international travel have proven to be one of the main ways the COVID19 virus is spreading among communities, nations and globally and there is therefore need to limit the travelling to the absolutely essential only
2. Objective
The objective of these guidelines is to:
a) Limit the spread through transport of the COVID-19 across borders;
b) Facilitate the implementation of transport related national COVID-19
measures in cross border transportation;
c) Facilitate flow of essential goods such as fuel, food and medicines;
d) Limit unnecessary and mass movement of passengers across borders; and
e) Harmonise and coordinate transport related national COVID-19 policies,
regulations and response measures
3. Guidelines
These guidelines assume that Member States are implementing the policies and measures to combat COVID-19 recommended by WHO, WCO and SADC.
Cross Border Freight Truck Operations
Only trucks/vehicles with the following cargo, goods and services will be allowed to operate in interstate operations in order to ensure continuity of supply chains:
(i) Food;
(ii) Medicines;
(iii) Fuel;
(iv) Agricultural supplies;
(v) Security, emergency and humanitarian relief services; and
(vi) Other goods and services as may be agreed among and between Member States.
3.1
3.2 Cross Border Road Passenger Transport
Inter-State mass movement of persons by buses/minibuses or other vehicles to be suspended for defined periods except for the following exemptions to be granted against
3.3
3.4
For air, rail, inland waterways and maritime modes of transport, the following apply:
(i) Member States to consult and agree on suspension of interstate transport services and the conditions for services that will continue;
(ii) Interstate travelling should be discouraged and where it takes place, social distancing be applied as much as practically possible;
(iii) hygienic facilities recommended by the WHO be provided on the vehicle and at terminal areas and during travel; and
(iv) Information dissemination by the driver, pilot, crew and operators to passengers on COVID19 preventative measures in the languages of the travellers.
Services and facilities to be provided
It is recommended that the following services and facilities be provided by Transport Operators, Transportation Associations and/or Regulators:
(i) Put in place policies and procedures at the ports of entry to identify and accord priority to the clearance and transportation of essential goods and services (fuel, food and medicines and agricultural cargo and inputs);
(ii) Implement expedited protocols for the screening and testing of drivers, pilots and crews of airplanes, vessels and vehicles carrying essential cargo and services
(iii) Collaborate with Health Officials to design and implement a sensitization program for transit operators and their employees;
(iv) Provide hygiene facilities at each transport node, such as ports, Internal Container Depots, Container Freight Services, Road Side Stations/ Truck Stops, border posts and inland terminals as recommended by WHO and the National Government;
(v) Facilities to disinfect airplanes, vessels and vehicles and cargo at the point of loading and discharge; and
Special Cross Border Permits mutually agreed and recognised between the country of origin, country of destination and country/ies of transit:
(i) Citizens and residents returning to home countries / places of residence;
(ii) security, emergency and humanitarian relief services as may be agreed between
Member States; and
(iii) Transportation of work crews and teams under special arrangements between
Member States (e.g. teams working on cross border transport projects such as Kazungula Bridge and OSBP).
The following conditions must be met by operators and stakeholders who may wish to apply for the above exemptions:
(i)
(ii) (iii)
Reduction in number of passengers in a bus, mini-bus or other vehicle to allow for social distancing as practically as possible even if this may result in higher fares as this will discourage travel and reduce the spreading of the virus;
Provision of WHO recommended hygiene facilities on the vehicle, at the bus terminuses, borders and other places the cross-border buses may stop; and Information dissemination by the Driver and operators to passengers on COVID19 preventative measures in the languages of the travellers.
Other Mode of Cross Border Transport
(vi) Member States to designate parking facilities for cross border road transport Vehicles in transit and performing deliveries/pick-ups.
3.5 Member States Responsibilities for Trucks/Vehicles carrying goods
Member states shall ensure the truck/vehicle carrying goods:
a) Have only 2-3 crew members per vehicle to facilitate smooth border crossing in the region;
b) Crew members are in good health, and if crew are screened and found to be at high risk or positive for Covid-19, the truck will be decontaminated before it is allowed to continue to its final destination and the crew will be quarantined for 14 days according to the set national guidelines;
c) In the event that crew are quarantined while in transit, truck owners/operators shall make necessary arrangements for a backup crew to ensure that the goods are delivered to the intended destination;
d) Truck drivers are required to declare their final destination and are urged to stop only at designated points along the transport corridors so as to limit the chances of spreading of Covid-19 during transit;
e) The crew for cargo planes and vessels will be determined by the specifications of the aircraft or vessel/vessel and set international guidelines. The crew will be quarantined at government designated hotel for the period of their stay;
f) Establish a surveillance system to monitor the crew health and enable contact tracing.
3.6 Monitoring, review and sharing of best practices
Secretariat should coordinate:
(i) Review national transport related policies, regulations and response measures and identify inconsistencies;
(ii) Based on the review, select best practices and propose to the Member States harmonized policies, regulations and measures; and
(iii) Put in place a mechanism to enable member States to share information on best practices and experiences in the implementations of the various measures.
