The pandemic has severely disrupted the livelihoods of millions of people and cost SA 1,674 lives
President Cyril Ramaphosa wears a mask ahead of his address to the nation on June 17 2020. Picture: GCIS/JAIRUS MMUTLEFor 100 days we have been living in the shadow of one of the greatest threats to global health in over 100 years.
The Department of Health and the Ministerial Advisory Committee has recommended that dexamethasone can be considered for use on patients on ventilators and on oxygen supply. We took a decision early in the development of the disease in SA to restrictinternational travel and gatherings with the declaration of a National state of Disaster andsubsequently imposed a nationwide lockdown to slow the transmission of the virus.
During level 5 of the lockdown, this doubling time increased to 15 days, which meant that ittook much longer for the virus to spread. The doubling time has been at around 12 days during levels 4 and 3. Over the last few weeks, the number of infections has been rising rapidly. Nearly a third of all confirmed cases have been recorded in the last week alone and morethan half of all confirmed cases have been recorded over the last two weeks.
For many of us, what was once a distant disease is now coming much closer. More and more of us now know someone who is infected, whether at work or school or inour church, mosque, temple or synagogue. It may be one of our friends or a member of our family. Yet, even though the risk of infection is greater, it is by no means inevitable. Through our behaviour as individuals we can reduce the likelihood that we will get infectedor infect others.
The wearing of masks, however, is no substitute for regular washing of hands with soap andwater or sanitiser and maintaining a distance of at least 1.5m from other people. These are still the best ways of containing the spread of the virus. Our medical experts have advised that interventions such as setting up fumigation tunnels and body spraying should not be used as they have no proven benefit and may be harmful.
The power to defeat coronavirus is in our hands. Our response is now also more focused, on hotspot areas with the greatest rate of infectionand sending multidisciplinary health teams to contain outbreaks and ensure those with the infection get the necessary care. Although the situation is improving, we continue to experience delays in testing. This has severe implications for effectively managing patients with the infection as well astracing the contacts of infected people.
This platform will complement the work that is being done to ensure that we have the medical equipment, personal protective equipment and hospital facilities to manage the anticipated increase in Covid-19 patients.The coronavirus pandemic is not only a global health crisis. It is also a global economic crisis of ever-increasing proportion.
This means that there are businesses that have not earned any revenue and individuals who have not had any income for over 80 days. In each instance, specific and stringent safety requirements have been agreed on and will need to be put in place before a business can reopen, and protocols will need to be strictlyadhered to for businesses to remain open.
Through the easing of the lockdown we are continuing to balance our overriding objective ofsaving lives and preserving livelihoods. It is important to remember that this is a global pandemic and that most countries are facingsimilar challenges and must resolve similar dilemmas. It has been particularly important for us to open up personal care services, because this is an industry that predominantly employs women.
We will speak for Tshegofatso Pule, Naledi Phangindawo, Nompumelelo Tshaka, NomfaziGabada, Nwabisa Mgwandela, Altecia Kortjie and Lindelwa Peni, all young women whowere killed by men. As these suspects make bail applications this week, I have the utmost confidence that our courts will send the strongest of signals that such violence has no place in society.
Since December last year, 10 government-owned buildings have been handed over to the department of social development to be used as shelters, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing survivors who want to leave abusive relationships. I urge our lawmakers in parliament to process them without delay. Our courts have been firm in dealing with cases of gender-based violence even during the lockdown period, handing down life sentences and multiple life sentences to perpetrators.
In particular, we need to examine the effect of alcohol abuse not only on levels of violence, but also on road accidents and reckless behaviour.
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