Infections rise as government tries to fight the pandemic
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government, working with some key players in various sectors, is scrambling to contain the spread of the coronavirus and its economic damage, as cases of new infections pile up at an alarming pace.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s comments this week that the virus could affect as much as 60% of the population has triggering questions like at what point should the measures introduced by Ramaphosa last Sunday be escalated.
By late yesterday, the number of new infections had risen to 240, with the Eastern Cape recording its first case. This means the country has recorded 179 new cases of Covid-19 in the space of five days since Sunday.
Ramaphosa is expected to make an announcement today. Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago and their teams were yesterday locked in a meeting to discuss an economic response package aimed at giving the country’s already ailing economy a so landing in the wake of the outbreak of the virus.
The economic stimulus package will be announced in a matter of days. Major economies around the world have announced unprecedented fiscal and monetary measures to save their economies from collapse. Mkhize on Friday reiterated his call for people not to panic.
“The rate of spread of the infection is increasing, however, this should not prompt a panic response. We must inform the public that it is projected that the virus could a affect 60% of citizens in the future,” he said.
Ramaphosa, who declared the virus a state of disaster, noted in his meeting with religious leaders this week that the global pandemic could have a devastating impact on poor communities, which are already ravaged by HIV-Aids. He also noted that millions of South Africans are at risk of contracting the virus in buses and taxis, in the workplace and in homes. On Monday, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said the government would only invoke a state of emergency as a last resort.
In terms of the constitution, a state of emergency may be declared by the president through parliament only “when life of the nation is threatened by war, invasion, general insurrection, disorder, natural disaster or other public emergency, and the declaration is necessary to restore peace and order”.
Presidency spokeswoman Khusela Diko said:
“As long as South African citizens and others in the country comply with the directives issued by government to bolster e orts to minimise the rapid spread of the virus by, among others, adopting hygienic behaviour and social distancing, we will hopefully see containment of the virus and therefore no need to consider … a state of emergency.”
