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President Cyril Ramaphosa.
- As of December 26, South Africa had registered 994,911 positive cases of Covid-19, with more than 26,500 deaths.
- The country is currently in the grip of a second wave of infections.
- The National Coronavirus Command Council is ready to consider what restrictions to put in place to curb the increase in new cases.
Members of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) were removed from license to a meeting on Sunday, amid calls from hospitals and healthcare workers for a more severe shutdown.
Presidential Minister Jackson Mthembu confirmed to News24 that the council will meet on Sunday.
Tighter regulations are expected to be discussed as the rate of reported infections continues to rise and it looks set to surpass the 1 million mark when the latest figures are announced today.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to make an announcement on the government’s decisions well before New Year’s Eve, after presenting the council’s proposals to the cabinet.
Ramaphosa spokesman Tyrone Seale confirmed the council meeting but could not confirm when the “family reunion”, as the president’s speeches to the nation are known, was expected to take place.
Health workers and hospital officials have sounded the alarm in recent days, speaking of concern about mounting pressure on doctors and nurses as beds are rapidly filling up.
READ | Covid-19 spike: health unions are concerned that hospitals cannot cope
Health worker unions are concerned that the situation could get worse.
Earlier this week, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the increases indicated the virus was continuing to spread exponentially, faster than the first wave.
The government will face a tough decision as it balances reducing the spread of the virus, while ensuring that South Africans, many of whom have faced pay cuts or lost their jobs this year, remain financially afloat.
