Covid-19: Infections could rise by 10% per day after lockdown lifts – top scientist
He said the only way to lessen the impact of the virus was to ready the health system.
“We will be able to do that by getting facilities ready and there continues to be social distancing and people continue to wash their hands. It is through actions as individuals that we spread the virus.”
Economy
Ramaphosa said there would also be an acute focus on the economy going forward.
“Covid-19 has brought about the total destruction of the economy. The economy, as we speak now, is under a great deal of stress. We now collectively must respond to how we will rebuild and reposition the economy.”
MUST READ | Govt dept investigating possible scam after repatriated expats complain of ‘unhygienic’ quarantine facility
He said the impact of Covid-19 on the economy was akin to a post-war scenario.
“How do we reconstruct our economy after coronavirus, knowing it has dealt a huge blow? I’m characterising the coronavirus like a post-war situation. We have been fighting an invisible enemy and now we must start planning for a post-war situation.”
There’s no reason for our people to live in squalor
Ramaphosa said that South Africa had to undertake a massive hygiene campaign, post-Covid-19 and post-Level 5 lockdown.
“We identified the issue of hygiene as the key area that needs to be addressed. I guess with the lockdown, we could not properly wrap our hands around it.”
He said something had to be done as soon as possible.
“The time has arrived as, we move down other levels of the lockdown, the time has arrived to clean up our country. We now need to embark on a massive campaign countrywide to clean up South Africa.”
Ramaphosa said government had to deal with issues like waste dumps and hygiene, and had to “clean up the streets of our country, including rural areas, as well including high density areas like townships”.
“There is no reason our people should continue living in squalor.”
