A third death was recorded in SA, in the Free State; more than 200 arrests in the North West for breaking lockdown rules; and how these three countries have managed to contain their Covid-19 infections.
The latest number of confirmed cases is 1 326.
The country’s third death was recorded, in the Free State.
Gauteng still has the most cases, with 618.
Latest news:
The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that five people in Alexandra are under quarantine after coming into contact with a man who tested positive for Covid-19.
The man ignored an instruction to remain in isolation, pending the confirmation of his test results, and travelled to Limpopo before the start of the national lockdown last week.
He was traced to Limpopo, where he is currently being held in isolation at a health facility, said the department in a statement on Monday.
“The people in quarantine are awaiting their results.
“All known close contacts have already been identified, tested, and are in quarantine pending results. Our tracing team will continue to work on the tracking and tracing of other possible contacts.
“We are urging communities to take heed of the lockdown measures and act responsibly, so that together we can contain and prevent the further spread of Covid-19,” read the statement.
A 25-year-old Khayelitsha woman who tested positive for Covid-19 has been moved to isolation.
The woman and her three-year-old daughter were moved from Khayelitsha Hospital at around 15:00 on Monday.
According to her cousin, who spoke to News24, the woman’s health was deteriorating, forcing the Western Cape Department of Health to transfer her.
The woman was tested on 18 March and her results came back positive on Saturday.
Two pensioners died on the first day of social grant payments on Monday under the 21-day lockdown in Pimville, Soweto, and Hammersdale in KwaZulu-Natal.
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said she was saddened to learn about the deaths.
“I express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the departed. Both of them were confirmed to be social grant beneficiaries at the time of their passing and I have instructed Sassa to process their payments without any delays.”
Zulu has directed social workers to provide psycho-social support services to their families.
She appealed to social grant beneficiaries to comply with the lockdown regulations by using their Sassa and post office cards at local retailers to avoid long queues
President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that the country’s downgrade by Moody’s to junk status will not derail efforts to fight the coronavirus, but warned that the development would have a negative impact on the ailing economy.
In an address to the nation on Monday evening regarding the progress of the country’s 21-day national lockdown, Ramaphosa acknowledged the hit taken by business as a result of the unprecedented shutdown.
On Friday, Moody’s cut South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to sub-investment grade, joining other two global ratings agencies, Fitch and S&P, which have already downgraded the country.
Being rated at sub-investment grade will “significantly increase the cost of borrowing” for the country, Ramaphosa said.
However, he added: “This development will not diminish in any way our response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Moody’s lowered South Africa’s rating from Baa3 to Ba1 and kept the outlook negative.
More than 200 people have been arrested in the North West for contravening lockdown regulations.
This after the country went into a 21-day lockdown that was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to curb the coronavirus from spreading.
North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson Alpheus Koonyaditse said the suspects had contravened Disaster Management Act regulations.
“The suspects were arrested for failing to confine [themselves] to their residential places, while others were arrested for moving between metropolitan and district areas as well as misrepresenting that another person was infected with Covid-19.
“Others were arrested for failing to close liquor premises and some for failing to adhere to the prohibition on gatherings,” Koonyaditse said.
Source: https://www.health24.com
