[ad_1]
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the country on the state of affairs for Covid-19 on Thursday night at 8 p.m.
The direction, which has been anticipated for some time, is speculated to be related to the sharp rise in Covid-19 infections in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
These provinces have been declared hotspots, notably Nelson Mandela Bay and Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape, and along the Garden Route in the Western Cape.
In some areas, the new interventions are expected to include a tighter curfew and potentially a limitation on alcohol sales hours.
UPDATE: Level 1 crackdown for SA, increased lockdown restrictions for Nelson Mandela Bay
In a statement Thursday, the Presidency said Ramaphosa’s speech follows a “special Cabinet session that considered the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) meeting.”
Images courtesy of SABC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7DLEQWrZt0
On Wednesday night, 4173 new cases of Covid-19 were reported. In the Eastern Cape, there are now a total of 130,430 cases, representing 16.4% of the country’s Covid-19 cases. The Western Cape represents 16.9% of the country’s total cases, with 134,233 cases currently in the province.
# COVID-19 Statistics in SA as of December 2.
Use the COVID Alert SA app to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community. Start using this privacy-preserving app today! Add your phone to the fight! Download the Covid Alert SA app now! https://t.co/8YKEqaiiRF pic.twitter.com/eaU7Vpr9iO
– Dr. Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) December 2, 2020
There were also 65 more deaths reported on Wednesday, four of which took place in the Eastern Cape, bringing the total death toll in the province to 4,678.
ALSO READ: Closing: Expired Driver’s Licenses Now Valid Until August 2021, All Domestic Airports Open
In the Western Cape, 4,701 have died due to Covid-19.
‘Science and common sense’
During Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde’s 30th digital conference since the pandemic struck on Thursday morning, he said that Covid-19 cases continued to rise steadily. To keep abreast of the latest developments, regular consultations were held with the Presidential Coordinating Council, law enforcement agencies, and the health department.
Winde confirmed that a strict lockdown was not yet planned for the province, opting instead to launch a series of awareness programs and trying to push for more severe consequences for individuals and establishments that did not follow Covid-19 protocols.
The Western Cape’s response, Winde said, must be based on science and common sense.
Dr. Keith Cloete, head of the Western Cape health department, told the conference that the test positivity rate for the province was 20%, 4% higher than last week. He said the case numbers were beginning to match those seen during the third week of May, when the country had its first resurgence.
Cases have also grown to just under 50%, with each case currently affecting approximately 1.4 other cases.
The health system is bracing for an expected spike in deaths over the next few weeks, but Cloete said the system was still within its capacity to detect new cases.
The visibility of law enforcement would increase in hotspot areas, from traffic police to beach monitors and lifeguards, visitors and residents would be closely monitored and could face penalties if they fail to comply with regulations.
“In the next 30 days, we must make sure that we all play our part. If we follow this, it is not just normal life, but the new normal. We must all do our part to flatten the curve, have the summer season and keep the economy open, ”said Cloete.
Garden Route’s case load has increased by 29%, with nearly 400 new cases being reported in one day.
In light of Garden Route’s new hotspot status, Winde said he will meet with mayors and MEC on Friday to discuss a way forward.
The Western Cape Health MEC, Nomafrench Mbombo, said residents were not only taking care of themselves and their loved ones by following protocols, but were also ensuring the well-being of health workers on the front lines of the pandemic. .
A healthcare worker who contracted Covid-19 placed significant stress on colleagues and loved ones. The mental toll the pandemic has taken on frontline workers has also been significant, he added.
This, in turn, affected other hospital services that were currently overwhelmed due to Covid-19, in particular victims of road accidents, maternal and neonatal treatment, and HIV / AIDS and tuberculosis initiatives.
“Health is everyone’s business. Do not forget that health workers are the pillars that strengthen the system. Without them, you can have as many beds as you want, but if they have to be quarantined or isolated, their families are affected and there is likely no health system to accommodate them. Masking is in your hands. ”
“We must learn to live with Covid-19 until there is a vaccine,” said Cloete.
For more news your way, download The Citizen app to iOS Y Android.
[ad_2]
