President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended South Africa’s 21 days national lockdown by two more weeks.
He announced this during a television address on Thursday evening.
"At midnight tonight, it will be exactly two weeks since our country entered into an unprecedented nation-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus." – President Ramaphosa#COVID19 #CoronaVirusSA #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/teVQ2sqJyI
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 9, 2020
The President says there’s compelling evidence that the lockdown is working.
“If we end the lockdown too soon or too abruptly we risk a massive and uncontrollable resurgence of the disease we risk reversing the gains that we have made over the last few weeks and rendering meaningless the great sacrifices that we have all made fellow South Africans this evening I stand before you to ask you to endure a little longer,” he says.
The rate of new infections has slowed down.
“Since the lockdown came into effect, the rate at which new cases have been identified here in South Africa has slowed significantly. From 1 170 confirmed cases on the 27th of March, the number of confirmed cases today stands at 1 934. In the two weeks before the lockdown, the average daily increase in new cases was around 42%. Since the start of the lockdown, the average daily increase has been around 4%.”
He didn’t mention any recent deaths.
"As we walk this road together, as we struggle to defeat this pandemic, we remain strong and united and resolved. Much is being asked of you, far more than should ever be asked." – President Ramaphosa #COVID19SA #LockDownSA pic.twitter.com/ruf3e4Wg7M
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 9, 2020
Ramaphosa says South Africans have been cooperative and have largely adhered to the regulations .
“During the course of these last two weeks, your lives have been severely disrupted, you have suffered great hardship and endured much uncertainty. We have closed our borders to the world, our children are not in school, businesses have closed their operations, many have lost their income, and our economy has ground to a halt. And yet, faced with such daunting challenges, you, the people of South Africa, have responded with remarkable patience and courage.”
"We have been working to provide basic needs such as water and to maintain the reliability of food supply to the poorest South Africans" – President Ramaphosa #COVID19 #LockDownSA pic.twitter.com/cSVy6ipj9B
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 9, 2020
Ramaphosa says government will continue fighting the effect of the virus through intensified public health response, a comprehensive of economic support measures to support businesses and increased support to the poor.
President Ramaphosa on the Solidarity Fund – which was established to mobilise resources from companies, organisations and individuals to combat the coronavirus pandemic – has so far raised around R2.2 billion. #COVID19 #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/lhzDYpIsiM
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 9, 2020
"For we are a nation at one, and we will surely prevail. May God protect our people. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso. God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless 🇿🇦. Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika." – President Ramaphosa #Covid19SA #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/ATuhXAXhHY
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 9, 2020
