{"id":204691,"date":"2020-03-15T21:45:21","date_gmt":"2020-03-15T19:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/?p=204691"},"modified":"2020-03-16T15:25:05","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T13:25:05","slug":"corona-virus-south-african-government-announces-drastic-measures-to-contain-and-reduce-covid-19-infections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/corona-virus-south-african-government-announces-drastic-measures-to-contain-and-reduce-covid-19-infections\/","title":{"rendered":"Corona Virus: South African Government announces drastic measures to contain and reduce COVID-19 infections!"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>At 19h40 today President Cyril Ramaphosa announced our country\u2019s retaliatory and preventative measures against the Corona Virus, of which there are 61 cases to date, following an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier today. A National State of Disaster was announced. The President described the measures to be implemented as \u2018urgent and drastic\u2019. <\/i><\/p>\n

An official statement by the South African Government is not yet available. I made notes whilst listening to the speech by our President, which forms the basis of this post. I will add the full speech of the President once it is available. <\/p>\n

In summary, the following was addressed:<\/p>\n

\u2611\ufe0f Travel ban from foreign nationals from high risk countries from 18th March 2020.The countries include Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany, the UK, the USA, South Korea, and China. Any visas issued for residents of these countries travelling to our country will be revoked. South Africans are not to travel to these countries either. Travellers from \u2018medium-risk countries<\/i>\u2019 such as Portugal, Hong Kong, and Singapore must undergo \u2018high intensity screening\u2019. <\/i>
\n\u2611\ufe0fSA citizens advised to refrain from travel to or through high risk countries effective immediately.
\n\u2611\ufe0fSA citizens returning from high risk countries will have testing and self-isolation.
\n\u2611\ufe0fAll foreign nationals having arrived into the country since mid February from high risk areas must be tested. Foreigners who were granted visas will have them revoked if they are from high risk areas. 
\n\u2611\ufe0fAll spheres of government are not to take non-essential travel.
\n\u2611\ufe0fGatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited, including mass celebrations of Public Holidays like Human Rights Day. Stringent measures are to be taken by the organisers for smaller gatherings. 
\n\u2611\ufe0fSchools closed from 18 March until after the Easter weekend 
\n\u2611\ufe0fVisits to all correctional facilities cancelled for the next 30 days.
\n\u2611\ufe0fAll businesses must ensure that measures are taken to intensify hygiene control, as will be done inside Parliament. 
\n\u2611\ufe0fAll shopping centres must ensure all measures taken to intensify hygiene control
\n\u2611\ufe0fCapacity of health centers to be increased nationally
\n\u2757Call for all to wash hands for 20 seconds.
\n\u2757Call for all to sneeze with a closed hand into a tissue of elbow
\n\u2757Call for all to avoid close contact with those who have flu-like symptoms
\n\u2757Call for all to practice the “elbow” greeting and not shake hands.
\n\u2611\ufe0fNational command council has been established, meeting 3 times a week, chaired by the president.
\n\u2757This virus will have significant and drastic effect on our economy.
\n\u2757Cabinet is finalizing a package of varying fiscal measures for business, labour etc.
\n\u2757We must stop spreading fake and fear-promoting news
\n\u2611\ufe0f Swift, purposeful, and collective action required.<\/p>\n

President Ramaphosa admitted that our country is already suffering economically due to the outbreak of the Corona Virus in the past three months, with cancellations by tourists, and disrupted global markets, and he recognised that the measures announced today will impact the economy, and make matters even worse! <\/p>\n

Locals are encouraged to not travel locally in our country, by bus, by air, by rail, and by taxi. Our country has 53 ports of entry, which are to be reduced by 35 from tomorrow. <\/p>\n

While the tourism industry will be devastated by these measures, restaurant owners and staff can breathe a sigh of relief that restaurants do not have to close, as is the case in Italy, Spain, and France. <\/p>\n

He urged South Africans to demonstrate \u2018solidarity, understanding, and compassion<\/i>\u2019 for each other, and \u2018to help those in need<\/i>\u2019. Everyone is expected to play his or her part in combatting the disease. While anxiety is understandable, we were urged to not be overwhelmed by the measures and the disease, and to not spread Fake News. Ultimately we are to limit contact with infected persons. <\/p>\n

He concluded by saying that if we are united we are strong, if we are separated we will be defeated. <\/p>\n

POSTSCRIPT 15 March 2020<\/b>:  The President\u2019s Speech follows in full below: <\/p>\n

\u2018STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ON MEASURES TO COMBAT COVID-19 EPIDEMIC
\n15 MARCH 2020
\nFellow South Africans,
\nI am addressing you this evening on a matter of great national importance.
\nThe world is facing a medical emergency far graver than what we have experi-enced in over a century.
\nThe World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic.
\nThere are now more than 162 000 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus across the globe.
\nGiven the scale and the speed at which the virus is spreading, it is now clear that no country is immune from the disease or will be spared its severe impact.
\nNever before in the history of our democracy has our country been confronted with such a severe situation.
\nFrom the start of the outbreak in China earlier this year, the South African gov-ernment has put in place measures to screen visitors entering the country, to contain its spread and to treat those infected.
\nAs of now, South Africa has 61 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus, and this number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks.
\nInitially, it was people who had travelled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus.
\nIt is concerning that we are now dealing with internal transmission of the virus.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

This situation calls for an extraordinary response; there can be no half- measures.
\nCabinet held a special meeting earlier today.
\nAfter which, due to the serious measures we are going to announce, I have consulted the premiers.
\nWe have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country and reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy.
\nWe have now declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
\nThis will enable us to have an integrated and coordinated disaster management mechanism that will focus on preventing and reducing the outbreak of this virus.
\nWe will also be able to set up emergency, rapid and effective response systems to mitigate the severity of its impact.
\nFollowing an extensive analysis of the progression of the disease worldwide and in South Africa, Cabinet has decided on the following measures:
\nFirstly, to limit contact between persons who may be infected and South African citizens
\nWe are imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China as from 18 March 2020.
\nWe have cancelled visas to visitors from those countries from today and previously granted visas are hereby revoked.
\nSouth African citizens are advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, United States, United Kingdom and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran and South Korea.
\nThis is effective immediately.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Government will continue to regularly issue travel alerts referring to specific cities, countries or regions as the situation evolves based on the risk level.
\nAny foreign national who has visited high-risk countries in the past 20 days will be denied a visa.
\nSouth African citizens returning from high-risk countries will be subjected to testing and self-isolation or quarantine on return to South Africa.
\nTravellers from medium-risk countries – such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore – will be required to undergo high intensity screening.
\nAll travellers who have entered South Africa from high-risk countries since mid-February will be required to present themselves for testing.
\nWe will strengthen surveillance, screening and testing measures at OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka International Airports
\nSouth Africa has 72 ports of entry in the country which are land, sea and air ports.
\nOf the 53 land ports, 35 will be shut down with effect from Monday 16 March.
\n2 of the 8 sea ports will be closed for passengers and crew changes.
\nEffective immediately, all non-essential travel for all spheres of government outside of the Republic is prohibited
\nWe further discourage all non-essential domestic travel, particularly by air, rail, taxis and bus.
\nSecondly, it is essential therefore that we minimize the risk of the spread of this virus by limiting contact amongst groups of people.
\nWhile we appreciate the economic, religious, and cultural significance of social and community gatherings, the coronavirus is spread through contact between persons.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

As we have said before, the current circumstances require extraordinary measures to curb the spread of infections. Countries that have heeded the call to implement these radical measures, have fared much better than those than do not.
\nTherefore to encourage social distancing Cabinet has decided on these additional measures:
\nGatherings of more than 100 people will be prohibited.
\nMass celebrations of upcoming national days such as Human Rights Day and other large government events will be cancelled.
\nWhere small gatherings are unavoidable, organisers will need to put in place stringent measures of prevention and control.
\nSchools will be closed from Wednesday, 18 March, and will remain closed until after the Easter Weekend.
\nTo compensate, the mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week.
\nGovernment is working closely with colleges, universities and other public facilities such as Parliament, prisons, police stations and military installations to intensify hygiene control.
\nVisits to all correctional centres are suspend for 30 days with immediate effect.
\nGovernment is aware of the confirmed case of a student who has tested positive for the coronavirus at Wits University.
\nThose who have been in contact with the student will be quarantined.
\nThe Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is consulting with vice chancellors of universities and colleges across the country and will soon be announcing measures in this regard.
\nWe call on all businesses including mining, retail, banking, farming to ensure that they take all necessary measures to intensify hygiene control.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

We also call on the management of malls, entertainment centres and other places frequented by large numbers of people to bolster their hygiene control.
\nThirdly, to further strengthen our health response:
\nGovernment is strengthening its surveillance and testing systems.
\nWe are in process of identifying isolation and quarantine sites in each district and metro.
\nCapacity is being increased at designated hospitals in all provinces.
\nWe are also increasing the capacity of existing contact tracing processes.
\nWe are partnering with the private sector to set up a national tracking, tracing and monitoring system of all people infected with the coronavirus and those they have been in contact with
\nWe are undertaking a mass communication campaign on good hygiene and effective prevention behaviour.
\nTherefore, we are calling on everyone to:
\n\u2022 Wash their hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitisers for at
\nleast 20 seconds; \u2022
\n\u2022 over their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow;
\n\u2022
\n\u2022 Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
\nIn essence, we are calling for a change of behavior amongst all South Africans.
\nWe must minimise physical contact with other people, and, encourage the elbow greeting rather than shaking hands.
\nBecause of the severity of this virus and its rapid spreading, government will make funding available to capacitate the sectors dealing with the national response to the Coronavirus outbreak.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Since the outbreak of this pandemic, our government’s response has been led by an Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize.
\nWe congratulate them on the outstanding work they have done – together with their able support teams – to steer our country through this challenging and un-certain period.
\nAs part of the intensification of this effort, we have decided to establish a National Command Council chaired by the President.
\nThis Command Council will include, amongst others, members of the Inter- Ministerial Committee and will meet three times a week, to coordinate all aspects of our extraordinary emergency response.
\nMy fellow South Africans,
\nIn addition to the impact that this pandemic will have on health and well- being of our people, and the impact it will have on the day-to-day life of our society, COVID-19 will also have a significant and potentially lasting impact on our economy.
\nIn the last few weeks, we have seen a dramatic decline in economic activity in our major trading partners, a sudden drop in international tourism and severe instability across all global markets.
\nThe anticipated effects of the decline in exports and tourist arrivals will be ex-acerbated by both an increase in infections and the measures we are required to take to contain the spread of the disease.
\nThis will have a potentially severe impact on production, the viability of businesses, job retention and job creation.
\nCabinet is therefore in the process of finalising a comprehensive package of interventions to mitigate the expected impact of COVID-19 on our economy.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

This package, which will consist of various fiscal and other measures, will be concluded following consultation with business, labour and other relevant institutions.
\nIt is clear that this disease will be extremely disruptive.
\nOur priority must be to safeguard the health and well-being of all South Africans, to minimise the number of infections and to ensure all those infected get proper treatment.
\nWhile we are battling a contagious virus, perhaps the greatest dangers to our country at this time are fear and ignorance.
\nWe must appreciate the extent of the threat that this disease presents, we must accept the anxiety that it causes, but we cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by fear and panic.
\nWe should stop spreading fake and unverified news and create further apprehension and alarm.
\nWhile we are facing a medical emergency far graver than we have experienced in recent times, we are not helpless.
\nWe have the knowledge, the means and the resources to fight this disease.
\nIf we act swiftly, with purpose and collectively we can limit the effects of the coronavirus on our people and our country.
\nAlthough we may be limiting physical contact, this epidemic has the potential to bring us closer together.
\nWe are responding as a united nation to a common threat.
\nThis national emergency demands cooperation, collaboration and common action.
\nMore than that, it requires solidarity, understanding and compassion.
\nThose who have resources, those who are healthy, need to assist those who are in need and who are vulnerable.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

All the institutions of the state will be mobilised to lead this effort, but, if we are to succeed, every company, trade union, NGO, university, college, school, religious group and taxi association will need to play its part.
\nWe thank those people who suspected they may have been exposed to the virus for coming forward to be tested and for taking measures – such as self-isolation – to prevent further transmission.
\nWe thank the medical teams around the country who are leading our response and are putting the well-being of others ahead of the risks they face themselves.
\nOn Saturday we welcomed 104 of our compatriots who were in Wuhan City, China.
\nWe thank the repatriation team for the task they performed with pride and efficiency to return them to the country and ultimately to their families.
\nThe repatriation has been successful and those who have returned have settled in the quarantine area.
\nWe thank the military health officials, pilots, cabin crew and all those who participated in this exercise.
\nWe thank the leadership and the people of Polokwane and Limpopo for warmly welcoming our fellow South Africans.
\nWe also extend our gratitude to the staff and management of the Ranch Hotel who have accommodated our compatriots and also subjected themselves to quarantine.
\nWe extend our appreciation too to the companies, organisations and individuals who have taken it upon themselves to disseminate information about this virus and to raise awareness.
\nWe thank those businesses that have taken steps to protect their employees, and those unions that have taken steps to protect their members.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Ministers who are at the frontline of coordinating our response to this crisis will be briefing the nation tomorrow, where they will unpack details in relation to the measures we announced tonight.
\nFellow South Africans, this is the most definitive Thuma Mina moment for our country.
\nI have great trust that our people will respond positively to this call to common action.
\nFellow South Africans, This epidemic will pass.
\nBut it is up to us to determine how long it will last, how damaging it will be, and how long it will take our economy and our country to recover.
\nIt is true that we are facing a grave emergency.
\nBut if we act together, if we act now, and if we act decisively, we will overcome it.
\nI thank you.\u2019
\n<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  At 19h40 today President Cyril Ramaphosa announced our country\u2019s retaliatory and preventative measures against the Corona Virus, of which there are 61 cases to date, following an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier today. A National State of Disaster was announced. The President described the measures to be implemented as \u2018urgent and drastic\u2019. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,39707,39706,22,37976,32565],"tags":[12059,39742,39732,464,39735,32378,39750,39708,39709,18324,39753,39752,39751,39744,39737,560,39745,39739,39736,7684,30481,23228,33839,39740,39733,2112,39747,3506,39738,39746,13,25219,39741,8641,39748,2116,2153,1558,10094,2773,3812,39734,561,39749,562,39743,1858,1528,25261,8459],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t