Ramaphosa: Level 3 by End May for MOST of South Africa, Exercise Regulations to be Relaxed
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Wednesday evening, summing up the current situation regarding COVID-19 in South Africa… and preparing South Africans for the way forward. He said many thousands of South Africans would have died without Lockdown and the measures taken by the government. He thanked health workers for their sacrifice and South Africans […]
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Wednesday evening, summing up the current situation regarding COVID-19 in South Africa… and preparing South Africans for the way forward.
He said many thousands of South Africans would have died without Lockdown and the measures taken by the government. He thanked health workers for their sacrifice and South Africans for their contribution by “staying home and staying safe”.
Ramaphosa said thanks to world-leading experts from SA and across the globe, and guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and experience of other countries, SA had averted several projections of what would have happened without the country’s “swift and decisive action”.
The death toll would have been 8 times higher
Without lockdown and other measures, Ramaphosa said 80,000 South Africans could’ve been affected by now; with a death toll at least eight times higher.
As of today 219 people in SA have succumbed. By contrast, at a similar stage countries like the US had recorded over 22,000 deaths, and the UK over 19,000 deaths.
“We should never forget that the purpose of the lockdown was to delay the spread of the virus and prevent a huge surge of infections,” Ramaphosa reminded the nation.
Ramaphosa said the “positivity rate” has remained low and stable, with around 181 people per million affected in SA, compared to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and Singapore which have between 2,400 and 4,600 Coronavirus cases per million people.
Ramaphosa said over 9 million people have been screened, and over 370,000 coronavirus tests conducted – the largest public health mobilisation in the history of SA, and made possible by the hard work and dedication of thousands of community workers (nurses, doctors etc.)
He said several vital measures to support South Africans have been strengthened, including economic and social relief packages.
US Govt donated ventilators
Ramaphosa thanked the US Government for the donation of 1,000 ventilators.
He said lifting lockdown too abruptly would “risk a rapid and unmanageable surge in infections” so SA must continue to proceed cautiously, guided by local and international experts and observing the experiences of other nations.
South Africa will steadily increase economic activity, he said.
Most of SA will be under Level 3 before end May
Level Three will be introduced to most of the country by the end of May, he announced. “Some parts of the country may have different levels, according to the rate of infections in an area and the state of readiness and capacity of its health facilities,” said the President.
The highest infection rates are mostly concentrated in a few metropolitan districts… and therefore regulations will remain stringent in those areas, and travel from those areas to other areas with lower rates of infection will be restricted.
Those areas with high infection rates will remain at Level 4.
Some Level 4 regulations will be relaxed
There will be certain changes to Level 4 in some business regulations over the next few days, and there will be a reduction in the restrictions on exercise, said Ramaphosa.
“Hugging, shaking hands and kissing is a thing of the past,” he said, predicting that COVID-19 will be part of life for the foreseeable future.
He called for vigilance (washing hands etc.) and responsibility from everyone as covid-19 is likely to spread more rapidly as restrictions are raised.
Mistakes have been made
President Ramaphosa acknowledged that some of the Government’s regulations have been unclear, inconsistent and the enforcement “too harsh”; and committed to increased transparency and to correct mistakes… as the government goes through un-chartered territory.
“We will make mistakes but I can assure you, we will always seek to correct those mistakes,” said President Ramaphosa. He highlighted the kindness and compassion that has been expressed by so many South Africans across the country.
“The greatest test will be our willingness to embrace change,” he said.