South Africa’s communications watchdog has allocated a special phone number for COVID-19 emergencies.
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has allocated the phone number “111” for use for COVID-19 emergency services.
“The service code ‘111’ is hereby harmonised and mandated for COVID-19 national emergency services,” Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng, ICASA’s acting chairperson, said in new regulations published today.
Calls to the COVID-19 emergency number will be free.
“The ‘111’ service code is mandated for COVID-19 national emergency services during the National State of Disaster. The service code “111” will cease to be harmonised and mandated within three (3) months after the termination of the National State of Disaster,” said Dr Modimoeng.
The National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) operates a special COVID-19 toll-free number 0800 029 99.
South Africa also has a COVID-19 WhatsApp that can be accessed by sending ‘hi’ to 060 012 3456
