South Africa Lockdown Latest News
South Africa people are looking forward to the President Cyril Ramaphosa nation address this weekend as the National State of Disaster expires at midnight. However, Dr Zweli Mkhize who is the Health Minister of South Africa has said the people might not get what they are expecting.
The Minister has mentioned that the ongoing consultations by the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) might only include adjustments to the current lockdown regulations.
The Minister has also hinted that the President might move the country to Lockdown level 2 because the Covi-19 infections are now low.
However, Mkhize said regarding the next level, no decision has yet been taken. He said the President will only make an announcement once he has finished with the consultations.
Dr Mkhize has also mentioned that they are in discussions with the NCCC who will then give guidance on what should happen next.
There is so much pressure from several corners of society for President Cyril Ramaphosa to open up more sectors of an economy battered by COVID-19.
But, Mkhize said that the matter was still under consideration by the national coronavirus command council (NCCC).
“The question of whether we’re ready for level two, we’re discussing it with the NCCC who will give us a guide on that but right now a lot of consultations are going on and with the numbers that are moving, there’s certainly adjustments that we have to look at.”
The minister stated that the country should wait for Ramaphosa to make the decision on the matter.
“The president will be able to give a full guide at that point when that decision is made not. No decision has been made yet about level 2.”
There have been more than 572,000 people have been infected with COVID-19, and South Africa is the fifth most in the world.
The coronavirus infection rate is now slowing down but Mkhize has highlighted the importance of reinforcing good behaviour like wearing masks,sanitising and washing hands.
“From what we are seeing, South Africa has fared a little better than we initially anticipated. We’ve not quite as bad, and of course, we always regret any loss of life in South Africa, however, we have now seen that the surge is abating. the fact that it is abating and to be honest, we were still waiting and preparing for a higher increase based on the forecast and models that have been shown to us.”
