Covid-19: Cheap cigarettes are being sold illegally
In addition, he noted that the Western Cape remained the epicentre of the virus, with 4 809 cases.
Cosatu is particularly concerned with the large number of retail sector workers, the majority of whom are its members, who have been infected in the province.
“Shopping malls are now the new epicentres in the province, because its management has failed to put proper preventative measures in place,” the union federation claimed.
Employers
Cosatu called out some employers for putting profit before the health of workers, citing an example of workers allegedly being instructed to not tell their colleagues if they were infected.
“Our province is facing the biggest health crisis ever. Accordingly, Cosatu calls for the immediate and urgent intervention of the national government.
The number of confirmed cases per provinces are now: WC- 4809, NC-28, EC-1078, KZN 1308, FS-134, NW-41, GP-1910, MP-61,Limpopo-51. Regrettably there have been 8deaths reported today, bring the total deaths to 186
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 9, 2020
“We need a co-ordinated response to curb the spread of the further spread of the virus in this province,” Cosatu said.
News24 earlier reported in its livestream that Mkhize, in his briefing, had noted that the Western Cape’s tests were coming almost 70% positive, according to the lab reports.
Infections
“It is no secret that the Western Cape has now recorded at least 50% of all the known Covid-19 infection cases nationally,” Cosatu added.
READ: Covid-19: SA’s biggest one-day spike hits 663, as Western Cape records over 500 new cases
As a result, the union federation has called on the police and the army to have a bigger presence at malls and hotspots in the province.
It also called on workers and their families to help flatten the curve by staying home.
“It is our view that if urgent preventative action is not taken now immediately, we will see a disaster of unprecedented proportions,” the union concluded.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the province next Friday, according to the Mkhize.
