South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned of a looming second wave of Covid-19 in a Thursday night address to the nation.
“There is now clear evidence of a resurgence of infections in parts of our country, which, if not confronted decisively and directly, could lead to great suffering and death,” the president said.
On 3 November, South Africa recorded a total of 4,400 new cases. The country’s current total number of Covid-19 cases is 805,804, with 21,963 deaths and 740,450 recoveries.
Ramaphosa said that the country has been able to keep daily reported infections below 2,000 cases in the past, but that has since changed in the previous three weeks. The country had registered a double average of 2,900 new daily cases in the last week of November, compared to the daily average of 1,500 new daily cases in the first week of November.
The head of state called for a prompt change of behavior from South Africans to “prevent a resurgence of the virus” and for effective management of outbreaks.
The country’s hotspots’ list is responsible for the surge includes Sarah Baartman District and Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Metro in Eastern Cape Province and Garden Route District in the Western Cape Province. NMB Metro, home to Eastern Cape Province’s largest city, Port Elizabeth, is the worst hit.
South Africa is currently the most affected country in the African Continent and the 16th most-affected country globally.
Strict prohibition of alcohol consumption in public places such as parks and beaches in a bid to impede large social gatherings.
Any form of gathering, including religious gatherings, should not exceed 100 persons for indoor events and 250 persons for outdoor events.
To curb the spread of the virus in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, curfew hours have been adjusted to begin from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily, except for emergency cases. He said the restriction was not a form of punishment to the residents but a move to “save lives” and “contain the virus’s spread.
He mentioned that the two other affected areas would be visited by officials who would advise on the favorable trajectory.
Ramaphosa warned that anyone found contravening the restriction will face the consequences. He further instructed compliance of the law by managers, owners, and controllers of shops, institutions, workplaces, and buildings to ensure the wearing of masks and social distancing. Law enforcement officers are to ensure full compliance with the mentioned persons.
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