Government

President calls on citizens to refrain from panic buying President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on citizens to refrain from stockpiling on groceries as government intensifies its efforts to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The President said this when he met with leaders of all political parties at Tuynhuys, in Cape Town, on Wednesday, to discuss the response to the virus, which he declared a national disaster on Sunday. He said this as shelves in major retailers ran low on several … [Read more...] about Think Twice Before You Panic

Teachers, administration officials to work until Friday The Basic Education Department has confirmed that although schools officially closed on Wednesday, 18 March 2020, in terms of the Cabinet decision taken on Sunday, teachers will continue to work until Friday, 20 March 2020. On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a national disaster and announced the closure of schools to combat transmission of the virus. “The Council of Education Ministers … [Read more...] about No Rest for the Wicked

Government departments urged to take precaution The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has called on government departments to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent the spread of Coronavirus among public servants and citizens at frontline service delivery points. Public Service and Administration Director-General Yoliswa Makhasi has issued Circular No 07 of 2020, outlining the guidelines for the containment and management of COVID-19 in the Public … [Read more...] about Has that Frontline Government Employee Taken Precautions?

Lowering infection risk at airports The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued guidelines for infection control for all airlines, which apply to passenger, cargo and baggage handling. “These are guided by the general guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO). “Assessment exercises have been carried out across all our airports, in accordance with the WHO advisory to ensure that screening measures are implemented to limit the risk of exportation or … [Read more...] about Why Bother if People are no Longer Flying?

Travellers urged to check COVID-19 health notices Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has advised South African citizens who are travelling to be aware of the health risks. “… When they travel they should check the travel and health notices for COVID-19 at their destinations,” the Minister said in a statement on Tuesday. On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a national disaster and outlined a comprehensive plan detailing how the … [Read more...] about IF you are intending to travel:

Municipal Advisory Forum established to coordinate coronavirus response The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Disaster Management Advisory Forum: COVID-19 has been established to coordinate the local response to the coronavirus in line with legislation guiding the declaration of a national disaster. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Director of Disaster Management, Shane Brown, said civil society organisations as well as an internal municipal structure – established to ensure service delivery … [Read more...] about NMB Disaster Management Swings into Action

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Coronavirus affected countries to work with speed in dealing with the virus Briefing the media on Thursday, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made a clarion call to countries to act with speed and for governments to show determination. The Coronavirus death toll, as of Thursday, stands at 3 281, with a total of 95 265 reported cases of COVID-19 globally. On Thursday, South African Health Minister … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: WHO urges speedy response

Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth named as a centre for isolation and treatment of people infected with Coronavirus South Africans should not panic but rather be alert. That is the advice from President Cyril Ramaphosa following the announcement of the first case of the Coronavirus in the country. The President has assured that government is and will continue to demonstrate urgency and caution as the country deals with its first confirmed case of Coronavirus. The President on … [Read more...] about Coronavirus being handled with urgency, care: President

Who is most at risk from COVID-19? The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, says South Africa will monitor pedantically developments around Coronavirus after confirming the first positive case of COVID-19. Briefing the media on Thursday afternoon following the first confirmed case of Coronavirus in the country, Mkhize said there is no need to panic as medical authorities are taking all measures to contain the spread of the virus. A 38-year-old KwaZulu-Natal man, who travelled to Italy … [Read more...] about SA applying stringent measures to deal with Coronavirus: Mkhize

Siviwe Gwarube MP - DA Shadow Minister of Health The following speech was delivered in Parliament today during the Debate of National Importance on Coronavirus. Speaker, Panic has set across the world as the COVID-19 virus continues to wreak havoc in countries with some of the strongest health systems. The Coronavirus has led to the near-collapse of global markets which have suffered losses akin to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. It is clear that the world is gripped with fear as … [Read more...] about Government should take the nation into its confidence and table plans to deal with Coronavirus

After tempting fate this morning THIS happened The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed the first case of Coronavirus in South Africa on Thursday afternoon. The Minister took to Twitter to make the announcement just moments before a Parliamentary debate on South Africa’s readiness to deal with Coronavirus (COVD-19). “This morning, Thursday, March 5, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested … [Read more...] about First case of Coronavirus reported in SA

There are no reported cases of the virus in South Africa An aircraft with the capacity to bring back South Africans from the Coronavirus hit Wuhan City in China has been secured. “An interdisciplinary team of relevant departments including Health, Home Affairs, Social Development and the Defence Force will form part of the repatriation team from China to South Africa,” the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) said in a statement on Wednesday. The team will be … [Read more...] about Update on repatriation of South Africans from Wuhan City