[ad_1]
President Cyril Ramaphosa cautioned that people must be prepared “to live with the coronavirus among us for a year or even longer,” adding that people should expect an increase in Covid-19 infections as more people return to the job.
In his weekly bulletin on Monday, the president said that reducing the national blockade should not lead to sloppy behavior, predicting that it will increase the risk of outbreaks of infection.
“We will not be different. We can and should expect infections to increase as more people return to work. We must accept reality, prepare for and adapt to it,” said Ramaphosa.
He said that demands on clinics, hospitals and medical personnel will grow.
New reality
“Therefore, we must be prepared to continue living with the coronavirus among us for a year or even more. We must be prepared for a new reality in which the fight against Covid-19 becomes part of our daily existence,” he said. Ramaphosa. .
He said a change in behavior is necessary as restrictions on economic activity and daily life are eased to hinder the spread of the coronavirus.
“In the same way that we had to change our behavior to prevent the spread of HIV, now we have to change our behavior to stop the coronavirus,” said Ramaphosa.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced Sunday night that the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 10,015.
It also announced eight more deaths, bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths to 194.
READ: Coronavirus: SA exceeds 10,000 cases with 194 deaths
“The transition to the next phase of the coronavirus response, that of recovery, will be more difficult than the current one. The risk of outbreaks of infection will increase. The demands on our clinics and hospitals and medical personnel will grow,” he said.
Since early May, South Africa has been under Level 4 of a national blockade that saw 1.5 million workers return to work but with strict restrictions still in place.
Ramaphosa said the next phase of the coronavirus response will see the government step up intensive screening, testing and case management.
“We will introduce new measures to make contact tracking more effective. We will have to implement mass disinfection of workplaces, public transportation and other spaces,” he said.
READ: South Africa beyond Covid-19
Ramaphosa noted that South Africa’s success in overcoming the coronavirus will ultimately be determined by the changes we make in our behavior.
“Even after closing, especially after closing, we will still have to observe social distancing, wear face masks, wash our hands regularly, and avoid contact with others. We will have to reorganize workplaces, schools, universities, colleges, and others Public places for Transmission Limit.
“We will have to adapt to new forms of worship, socialization, exercise, and meeting that minimize opportunities for the virus to spread.”
[ad_2]
