Government will ratchet up efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus by rolling out an extensive testing, screening and tracing drive that will see 10 000 field workers visiting homes in towns, cities and villages.
Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings, President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that the number of people who have tested positive for the virus has risen to 1326, with the country recording its third death due to the virus.
“We are now entering a new phase in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ramaphosa said.
The president said people with symptoms of the virus will be referred to local clinics or mobile clinics for testing. He said citizens who are infected with coronavirus, but who have no or moderate symptoms, will remain in isolation at home or at a facility provided by government while those with severe symptoms will be transferred to hospitals.
“Using mobile technology, an extensive tracing system will be rapidly deployed to trace those who have been in contact with confirmed Coronavirus cases and to monitor the geographical location of new cases in real time. This drive is far-reaching, it is intensive and it is unprecedented in scale,” Ramaphosa said.
The president expressed concern over those who violated the lockdown rules, warning they were endangering their lives and those of others.
He once again called on South Africans to remain home in the next 17 days, and also thanked essential workers on the forefront of fighting the virus including, doctors and nurses. The president also thanked patrol attendants, security guards, taxi and bus drives, and other South Africans who continue to provide essential services under the lockdown.
“If we work together, if we keep to the path we know we have to take, we will beat this disease. I have no doubt that we shall overcome,” he said.
