South africa lockdown dates 20218/27/2023 ![]() ![]() Let us agree on what it is that we must do – and will do – to overcome this pandemic during the course of 2021.įirstly, we must do everything possible to slow the rate of transmission and, as we have done before, flatten the curve of infection. We have shown that when we work together, we can make a difference.Īs we begin this new year, let us therefore set out a clear path to recovery. If anything, the new variant means that we must be more diligent, more compliant and more consistent in following the necessary health guidelines.ĭespite the severity of the pandemic in our country, we are not helpless.Īs we have shown over the last 10 months, our actions do have an impact on the direction and the extent of the disease. We must not let up on any of the health protocols we have been observing. We must therefore avoid what has been described as the three Cs – closed spaces, crowded places and close contact with others.īecause the new variant can infect people more easily, it is vital that we each become even more cautious about the places we go to and the number of people with whom we interact. We must remember that this virus is carried through the air. This explains the fact that many more people have become infected in a far shorter space of time.Įmerging information suggests that this new variant does not cause more severe illness than the original variants.īut it does put more pressure on the health system because the cases increase so rapidly and the hospitals get full more quickly.īut one of the most important things that we know about the new variant is that we can prevent transmission using exactly the same measures that we have been using to protect ourselves and others all along. We do know that this new variant of the virus spreads much faster than the earlier variants. This variant was first identified in South Africa in November. Research undertaken by our scientists has shown that the massive increase in infections is largely driven by a variant of the coronavirus known as 501.v2. Therefore, there is an intensive focus in our health facilities on increasing oxygen supply and activating field hospital beds.Īdditional posts that were vacant are being filled, and personal protective equipment stocks are being jointly monitored with the Office of Health Standards Compliance. There are currently over 15,000 people with COVID-19 in hospitals nationally, placing a considerable strain on health facilities, personnel and equipment.Īround a third of all COVID-19 patients in hospitals are on oxygen. In several parts of the country, hospital admissions are also much higher now than during the first wave. However, we are encouraged that the rate of new infections in the Eastern Cape, while still high, is lower now than they were in the middle of December. Infections in Gauteng are growing exponentially and are expected to increase further as more residents of Gauteng return to the province following the festive break. ![]() New infections in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape have grown fast and have now far exceeded the peak during the first wave. We have recorded more than 33,000 deaths and more than 148,000 people have been admitted to hospital.Īs a proportion of the population, the province with the highest average number of cases over the last seven days is KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Since the start of the pandemic, South Africa has recorded a cumulative number of more than 1.2 million COVID-19 cases. The country has recorded more than 4,600 COVID-19 deaths so far this year. Since New Year’s Day, we have recorded nearly 190,000 new coronavirus infections. The number of new infections, hospital admissions and deaths is higher now than it has ever been since the first case was recorded in our country in March 2020. The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating. We enter this year with a great deal of hope – hope that we will restore our nation to health, that the new year will bring our people relief and comfort, and that lives and livelihoods will be rebuilt.īut, if we are to realise our aspirations for the year, we must unite to overcome the grave, persistent and deepening coronavirus pandemic. Once again, I wish you all the very best for 2021. Director General and Secretary of Cabinet Phindile Baleni. ![]()
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