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Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the country has registered more than 740,000 cases of COVID-19 and the death toll has passed the 20,000 mark.
President Cyril Ramaphosa participates in a US-SA virtual business and investment roundtable on November 11, 2020. Image: @ PresidencyZA / Twitter.
JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa has rebuked South Africans who ignore COVID-19 preventive measures, saying we must do everything we can to avoid a second hard wave.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the country has recorded more than 740,000 COVID-19 cases, and the death toll has exceeded 20,000.
The recovery rate remains stable at 92%.
The president said that since the worst infection rates were recorded in July, the Eastern Cape and municipalities in the Northern Cape, Free State and Western Cape have seen resurgences in COVID-19 infection rates.
He explained during his address to the nation on Wednesday night that the total number of new cases in the Eastern Cape over the past 14 days was around 145% higher than the previous 14 days.
He said there will be interventions focused on areas identified as ripe for a resurgence of infections.
“With many people moving between the Eastern Cape and other provinces, particularly the Western Cape, it is a matter of time before this increase spreads to other parts of the country. Therefore, we must take steps to contain the increase in infections.
“In response to increased infections, we are implementing the resurgence plan that has been developed in conjunction with the emergency team deployed to South Africa by the World Health Organization.”
Although severe in his tone about people’s lax behavior towards the virus, he said that if all necessary health protocols and remaining restrictions were followed, there would be no need to go back to a higher alert level.
CLOCK: Ramaphosa: the surge in the Eastern Cape must be contained
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