Covid-19 Updates

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.

Face-masks are recommended as an addition to hand-washing and social distancing. The face mask should never be promoted as our primary prevention strategy and should never be promoted separately from hand-washing and social distancing.

To ensure that N95 masks and surgical masks are secured for workers who really need them, we would like to recommend that the cloth face-mask should be used by the general population.

We are satisfied that there is sufficient scientific evidence to show that the cloth face mask significantly reduces the amount of virus that can be emitted.

It is nevertheless important to observe basic rules of the use of cloth face masks to ensure that they are safe for use:

• The face-mask must cover the nose and mouth completely.
• Face-masks should not be lowered when speaking, coughing or sneezing.
• Face-masks should never be touched – fidgeting with the mask repeatedly is strongly discouraged as it is important to avoid touching the face with hands. The inner side of the mask should not be touched by hands.
• Wash hands before and after donning or removing the face-mask.
• Washcloth face-masks with warm soapy water and iron when dry. Ironing assists with decontamination
• Change your cloth face mask if it is wet or visibly soiled
• Each person will need to have at least 2 face-masks so that one face-mask is available when the other is being washed.

The number of COVID-19 related deaths in South Africa has risen to 24.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa is 2,003.

In Other News – ANC remembers Chris Hani on the 27th anniversary of his assassination

South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC) on Friday remembered slain SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani on the 27th anniversary of his assassination, with calls to deepen unity in the ruling alliance which incorporates the ANC, the SACP and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). In honour of Chris Hani, we must all commit to work tirelessly to deepen unity within the alliance and undermine all else that seeks to subvert the democratic and mass character of our movement,” said ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe.

Chris Hani

The most fitting tribute we can pay to our struggle hero for national liberation is to forge social solidarity and unite in our actions to fight the coronavirus outbreak. In the name of Comrade Chris let’s continue to stay at home and show maximum discipline by observing all lockdown regulations even during the extended period for the good of all. continue reading

Source – sacoronavirus