I wish to speak to you this evening about the current state of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa.
We have seen many countries around the world experience a resurgence of the coronavirus, some with second waves even worse than their initial peak. For nearly 100 days, since the middle of August, we managed to keep the rate of new infections stable, at below 2,000 new cases a day.There has been a marked rise in new infections and an increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital.By the last week of November, this had almost doubled to an average of around 2,900 new cases a day.
Many people are travelling between provinces and within each province in higher numbers, especially with the festive season approaching. As we have said in the past these alcohol-related trauma admissions divert capacity that is needed to deal with COVID-related cases. The most urgent task before us right now is to contain the rise in infections in the affected districts in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, and to ensure that a similar situation does not develop in other parts of the country.
At the same time, we need to do all we can to keep the economy open and to push ahead with our reconstruction and recovery effort. In addition to the existing Alert Level 1 regulations, the following additional restrictions will apply in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro with effect from midnight tonight:This means that – except for emergencies – no person may be outside their place of residence between those times.The sale of alcohol from retail outlets will only be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday.
In determining these restrictions, we have sought to take those steps which are absolutely necessary to save lives while limiting disruptions to the economy. However, due to the high rates of infection in the metro, no initiation schools will be allowed in Nelson Mandela Bay.They are not intended to increase the hardship experienced by our citizens.In the coming days the Minister of Health will be visiting the Sarah Baartman District and the Garden Route to assess the situation and to engage with various stakeholders in the province.
Question, CyrilRamaphosa and MYANC : What about all the Cuban Doctors that cost us 3 times the normal rate which you have deployed in the Eastern Cape? Not working out according to plan I see. Can the Taxpayers get a refund from the Cubans for that?
The president should have just gone to nelson mandela and address them without wasting time on tv
Nothing important was said, sad