Own Correspondent|South Africa has 23 new Covid-19 cases, pushing the total to 85, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced in a statement late on Tuesday night.

This as the country takes drastic steps to curb a possible coronavirus outbreak with travel restrictions set to be implemented on Wednesday, as well as school and university closures.

“It is notable that there are 8 cases of local transmissions,” said Mkhize.

Gauteng recorded four local transmissions, followed by three in KwaZulu-Natal and one in the Western Cape.

In total, Gauteng has 45 cases, the Western Cape has 21, KZN has 16, Mpumalanga has 2 and Limpopo has 1 recorded case.

Citizens from Wuhan gets the clear

He also added that all of the South Africans who returned from Wuhan tested negative for Covid-19.

“We continue to keep them in quarantine for the prescribed period and will thereafter initiate the process of reunifying them with the community.”

The 104 South Africans are in quarantine at The Ranch Resort in Polokwane where they will be monitored for up to 21 days.President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster in light of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already claimed about 7 300 lives worldwide.