Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has called on commercial banks to play their part in preventing the spread of the coronavirus by providing sanitizers at all ATMs.
He made the call while visiting a shopping mall in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, to check on social grant payments.
Mabuyane says he was surprised that not a single ATM belonging to four banks was sanitized.
“Seeing people sharing ATMs without being sanitized is a serious risk. I won’t call on banks to play their part … even if it means leaving a bottle of a sanitizer with a security officer, at least there must be someone responsible,” adds Mabuyane.
Concerns over Eastern Cape’s ‘uphill battle’ against COVID-19
Concerns have been raised on how the Eastern Cape is dealing with the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases.
The province recorded its first case on March 21 after a patient who had traveled to Germany tested positive.
To date, in just over a month, the province has now confirmed 838 cases, with 18 deaths and 341 recoveries.
Confirmed coronavirus cases in SA
The total number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa has increased to 7 572 from 7 220 on Monday.
As at today the total number of confirmed #COVID19 Cases are 7572 and the total number of deaths is 148. pic.twitter.com/sEoZwA1cdT
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 5, 2020
The Western Cape remains the province with the highest number of cases.
There are 3 609 cases in the province.
In a statement, the Department of Health also confirmed 10 more COVID-19 related deaths.
“Seven from the Western Cape, one from Eastern Cape, one from KwaZulu-Natal and one from Gauteng.”
”This brings the total deaths nationally to 148. We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and thank the health care workers who treated these patients.”
More than 260 000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in South Africa.
#COVID19 Statistics in South Africa as at 05 May 2020. pic.twitter.com/I2476c7kDe
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 5, 2020
