<span style="color: #222222;">South Africa has announced a National State of Disaster over the coronavirus crisis as the number of infected people in the country has risen to 61.<br />''<br />''President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement in a live national television broadcast yesterday. He said, "We have decided to establish a national command council and will meet three times a week to coordinate all aspects of this emergency response"<br />''<br />''The South African president announced "social distancing measures" in the wake of the outbreak and said further details will be issued on Monday.<br />''<br />''These measures include a prohibition on gatherings of more than 100 people, cancellation of all large celebrations of national days, and the closure of all schools from March 18 until after the Easter weekend.<br />''<br />''Visas will be refused to anyone who has visited a high-risk country in the last 20 days, and 35 of the country's 53 land ports will also be shut on Monday.<br />''<br />''The President urged citizens to avoid international travel to high-risk countries but cautioned against any panic.<br />''<br />''President Ramaphosa also warned against spreading unverified and fake news.<br />''<br />''Cautioning against panic he added, "While we are facing a medical emergency far graver than we have experienced in recent times, we are not helpless.<br />''<br />''We have the expertise, means and knowledge to fight this disease. We also have partners, various countries and institutions, working with us."<br />''<br />''The number of infections in South Africa doubled over the weekend with 37 new cases, taking the total to 61.<br />''<br />''This makes it the country with the second-highest number of cases in Africa after Egypt, which has reported 110 so far</span><br />