Photo: GCIS
Photo: GCIS
With South Africa well and truly in the grip of a second wave of COVID-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa has pleaded with the public to do more to ensure that the spread of the virus is not facilitated by poor adherence to regulations being implemented to prevent it.
During his address to the nation on Monday 14 December, Raaphosa announced that further restrictions will be implemented to reduce the spread, and has given South Africans a final, final warning that unless they do better, more severe restrictions are inevitable.
‘Second wave could be worst than the first’ – Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa said that the surge in cases could have been avoided had more people resisted the urge to go to mass gatherings and travel irresponsibly. He said that the outlook is grim if such behaviour continues, and has warned that the second wave could be worse than the first in terms of deaths reported.
“We are getting very close to 900 000 cases, and we will soon hit a million cases,” he said.
“These figures are cause for great concern, and there can be no doubt that we have entered a second wave. Given the rate at which cases have grown, there is every possibility that if we do not urgently act, the second wave will be even more severe than the first wave.”
Alcohol consumption cause for concern
Parties are the largest source of outbreaks, according to Ramaphosa.
“At many of these parties, social distancing is not being observed. Venues are often overcrowded and are often not adequately ventilated. Hand sanitisers are not really available, and people are not wearing masks,” he said.
He said that those consuming alcoholic beverages become less careful about measures to protect themselves and others, and his announcement that bars and restaurants will have to close earlier and that liquor will only be sold at limited times at retailers aims to limit this impact.
Young people becoming increasingly impacted by COVID-19
Ramaphosa said that young people between 15-19-years-old are becoming infected more frequently, and said that this trend is directly correlated to the amount of mass gatherings being frequented by people in this age group.
He said that nearly 1 000 young people from Gauteng tested positive for COVID-19 after the Ballito Rage “super spreader” event earlier this month.
“What we don’t know yet, is how many more people each of them has infected,” he said. “It is said that some 300 families could have been infected from just one event.”
He also cited travel behaviours as a cause for concern and increased infection.
“The more we travel, the greater the risk for the spread of the virus. Wearing a mask in public transport and keeping windows open at all times is absolutely essential,” he said.
‘Festive Season poses great threat’
Ramaphosa said that South Africans have eagerly become engulfed in the festivities usually enjoyed during the month of December, but warned that should this behaviour continue under the dire circumstances facing the public, that many more people will succumb to COVID-19.
“We have gotten into the festive season spirit already. We have invited family over for Christmas, and started relaxing with friends, but it is our failure to adhere to all the regulations and safety precautions at all times that has brought us to this second wave.
He said that the festive season “now poses the greatest threat to the recovery of our nation and economy”.
“If we do not do things differently this festive season, we will meet the new year not with joy, but with sorrow. Unless we do things differently, this will be the last Christmas for many South Africans.”
