If the spread of the Covid-19 Virus in South Africa assumed an exponential proportion in the next few days, the government may have no option to declare state of emergency, making it the first to do so in a continent that has largely been shielded from the devastating effects of the rampaging virus. Speaking on the rising cases of persons who tested positive in the last few days, the country’s Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize warns that lockdowns and quarantining people away from their homes may become necessary if the cases continue.
He warned that if South Africa’s growing outbreak of Covid-19 is not swiftly contained, the government could impose a state of emergency, institute lockdowns, and quarantine people away from their homes, Zweli Mkhize warned today. Unlike in other African countries, the number of confirmed cases in South Africa has doubled every two days since the first case was announced on March 5, and presently stands at 61, with a further four awaiting validation by the National Health Laboratory Service, he said. At least 1,000 contacts are being traced.
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“That is not exponential. It is an explosive rise in cases. It is important for us to suppress the curve, and reduce the speed at which it is happening. We need to move into higher gear, the Health Minister warned, adding that “we are determined to take hard decisions if need be. We cannot rule out a need in the future to impose a state of emergency”.
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Mkhize said it was vital for SA to slow the spread of the SARS-Covid-2 virus, which causes Covid-19 or the health system would buckle. While most cases of Covid-19 are mild, 15% of patients are expected to require hospitalisation, a third of whom will need to be admitted to intensive care units, he said. The government was also worried about the potential spread of Covid-19 in poor communities. “It will create a new dynamic and the need to create quarantine facilities. When we say quarantine, it means someone might have to move from their homes,” he said.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry