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KZN Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala in a provincial government press speech.
- South Africa has 714,246 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of Oct. 24.
- Several government officials have expressed concern that people are apparently not complying with lockdown regulations.
- KZN Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala warned citizens of the province that a strict lockdown was not out of the question if people did not change their behavior.
KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala warned that returning to a strict lockdown was not out of the question if people did not change their behavior.
Zikalala was giving an update on Covid-19 and other matters at the eThekwini Disaster Center on Sunday.
The prime minister said that the “largely carefree attitude” shown by some citizens of the province since the passage of the blockade alert level 1 was cause for concern.
He said that despite warning of a possible second wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths, it seemed that people had set aside all precautions: no masks, no hand sanitizing, and no physical distancing.
“If I didn’t know, I would swear there was no Covid-19 lurking; let alone the fact that we are still under a national lockdown.
“Looking at the statistics around us, we can now safely say that we will definitely return to a hard lockdown, if there is not an urgent and drastic change in behavior.
“Let me clarify this: a second wave of Covid-19 will be stronger and more deadly, not only in terms of taking human lives, but it could deal a major blow to our economy,” Zikalala said.
Infections in the last two weeks in the province increased by 1,720, with 122,138 confirmed cases.
Zikalala said the overall provincial percentage change over the past two weeks was a 28% increase.
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Covid-19-related deaths in the province had also risen by 186 in the past two weeks, totaling 3,192.
The prime minister also issued a warning and closed liquor outlets and revelers who did not adhere to closure regulations. He said the failure to enforce restrictions at points of sale was undermining the progress made to curb the spread of infections.
“Alcohol is often a major contributor to traffic accidents and other social ills such as gender-based violence and interpersonal conflicts, which often turn fatal. Therefore, the reckless trade in alcohol has the potential to derail all the progress we have made in preparing our healthcare systems for a potential Covid-19 attack.
“In fact, we want to warn [that] those who post photos of themselves without wearing masks at liquor outlets will face the music, along with the owners of these establishments, “said Zikalala.
News24 previously reported that Police Minister Bheki Cele, accompanied by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), raided a nightclub operating after 00:00 in Sandton on Sunday.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the Backdoor Lifestyle Lounge and found nearly 300 people who were not wearing masks and maintaining no physical distance, in addition to the facility breaking the midnight curfew.
Cele spokesperson Lirandzu Themba, in a tweet, said that the owner of the establishment would be charged with violating the Disaster Management Act.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, recovering after testing positive for Covid-19 itself, also issued a warning last week after expressing concern about the risk of a resurgence amid “small flames” he was seeing rebuilding in some parts of the country.
As of October 24, South Africa had a total of 714,246 confirmed cases and 18,944 virus-related deaths.
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