Ramaphosa issues Covid-19 warning ahead of looming 'family meeting'
- President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the nation later this week on the continued national lockdown
- Ramaphosa has highlighted the threat of a second wave of Covid-19 ahead of his address
- The President warned that complacency now could undo the economic growth achieved thus far after restrictions were eased
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his weekly letter to South Africans to issue a warning over the Covid-19 pandemic.
The threat of a possible second wave of Covid-19 infections could be the undoing of the economic recovery achieved to date.
This comes as numerous meetings will be taking place to determine the path forward for the nation by the National Coronavirus Command Council and Cabinet.
Source: UGC
Ramaphosa pleaded with South Africans to consider the impact of failing to adhere to preventative measures:
“A second wave at any scale will not just dramatically reverse our health gains. It will choke the green shoots of economic recovery that have emerged, and take us back from spring to winter. To prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections, we must observe the public health guidelines that remain in place.”
The festive season is just around the corner and the President stressed the importance of avoiding a self-inflicted surge of cases:
“With the festive season approaching, it is critical that we do not become the architects of our own undoing. When we fail to wear a mask at a social gathering, when we attend crowded events, we are not only putting ourselves and others at risk. We are also putting our economic recovery in jeopardy. Let us all continue to play our part.”
Ramaphosa says that the new season, and hopefully the beginning of the end of the pandemic, is reason enough to feel optimistic:
“Even as most social and economic activity has resumed, we must still observe all the health measures. This is absolutely necessary if we are to rebuild our economy and put this crisis behind us. After a long and difficult winter, the beginning of a new season should fill us with optimism.”
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the English people that they would have to endure a second lockdown, this time lasting a minimum of four weeks.
Schools, colleges and universities will remain open but pubs, restaurants, gyms and shops that are not deemed to be essential will shut down.
Johnson said that the lockdown should last until Thursday, 2 December but Michael Gove commented that the restrictions would be lifted when the infection rate, the r rate, dropped sufficiently.
If not Mr Gove warned that the lockdown may continue beyond 2 December. The r rate needs to drop below 1 before the lockdown is lifted.
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Source: Briefly News
