South African communicable diseases experts have given the assurance that the country is well prepared to deal with the coronavirus following its outbreak in China some four weeks ago.
China imposed drastic travel restrictions at the weekend to try and limit the spreading of the virus, as the death toll reached 56.
Cases have been confirmed in countries including the US, Nepal, France, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
There have been none in South Africa so far.
Professor Cheryl Cohen of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases says they are prepared and systems are in place to deal with the virus.
"We have noted the four cases of the coronavirus that have recently been confirmed in Australia. These were anticipated due to the proximity of the continent to Asia", she said.
Cohen said they would like to assure South Africans that this country was prepared for any eventuality of an outbreak.
"We have put in place systems to rapidly identify, detect and respond to any imported cases that may reach our borders", she said.
