President Cyril Ramaphosa: COVID-19 a heavy cross to carry #GoodFriday

President Cyril Ramaphosa observed Good Friday by joining an online service lead by Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba.

“The coronavirus pandemic is a heavy cross being carried on the shoulders of all of humankind,” Ramaphosa said.

“Rich and poor, young and old, black and white, men and women suffer under its weight.

“But the message of Easter is also one of hope, of recovery, of triumph and of rebirth.”

Ramaphosa said since the lockdown started, visible progress has been made in curbing the virus.

“Since the lockdown began, the rate of identified new cases has slowed. Together with other measures like closing our borders and putting an end to public gatherings, we are seeing progress.

“If we continue to observe social distancing and proper hygiene, if we continue to scale up detection and testing to ensure those who need medical care get it, we will be able to turn things around,” Ramaphosa said.

The president called on South Africans to donate to the Solidarity Fund which was established to combat the pandemic.

In Other News – Update on Covid-19 – Confirmed coronavirus cases now 2003, 24 deaths

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the country has managed to avoid the spread of imported COVID-19 cases.

Mkhize says the lockdown helped stop new infections which could have been carried by people coming from outside the country.

He said there are now 13,488 tracers involved. The minister says going forward, people may be required to wear masks in overcrowded places. continue reading

Source – eNCA