Here are SA’s 12 coronavirus hotspots – and they may move back to Level 5

It's not just the Western Cape where South Africa's coronavirus hotspots have embedded themselves, and a return to Level 5 is a real threat for some.

Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled his blueprint for the countrywide shift to Level 3 of lockdown. Despite the presence of ‘coronavirus hot-spots’, the president has decided to let all districts of South Africa move forward to the next phase. But, those of you in high-infection locations should be aware: You’re being heavily watched.

Coronavirus updates for South Africa

Ramaphosa has detailed how a team of medical experts will monitor the progress of 12 particularly troublesome districts and metros. It looked likely, at one point this month, that the Cape Town Municipality and other parts of the Western Cape would be denied the chance to move to Level 3. That’s no longer the case, but these regions are now subject to the following interventions:

• A hotspot is defined as an area that has more than five infected people per every 100 000 people, or where new infections are increasing at a fast pace.
• SA ‘will have a differentiated approach’ to deal with those areas that have far higher levels of infection and transmission.
• Specialist teams who assess the hot-spots will include epidemiologists, family practitioners, nurses, community health workers.
• Each hot-spot will be linked to testing services, isolation facilities, quarantine facilities, treatment, hospital beds and contact tracing

Hotspots may be told to move back to Level 5

Ramaphosa did indicate that the south-west was a ‘particular concern’ for him and his government. In fact, he made it comprehensively understood that these districts aren’t out of the woods. The head of state revealed that they could be pushed back to Level 5 of lockdown should the localised numbers become unfavourable:

“Cape Town a particular concern, as is the Western Cape. All hotspots will be reviewed every two weeks, and to deal with coronavirus, intensive interventions will reduce infections. Enhanced surveillance and infection control will come in. A full-time team will monitor these hotspots. It will compromise public health experts and medical teams, supported by Cuban doctors.”

“These hotspots will all be monitored, and should it be necessary, these parts of the country may revert to Level 4 or Level 5 if we see a risk of our health facilities being overwhelmed. However, we’re also aiming to place areas where infections are low to Level 2, or even Level 1 at some point soon.”

Cyril Ramaphosa

Level 3 lockdown: South Africa’s coronavirus hotspots

1. Tshwane
2. Johannesburg
3. Ekurhuleni
4. eThekwini
5. Nelson Mandela Bay
6. Buffalo City
7. Cape Town
8. West Coast
9. Overberg
10. Cape Winelands
11. Chris Hani District (Eastern Cape)
12. iLembe (KZN)

President @CyrilRamaphosa is addressing South Africans this evening on developments in our country’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/O6A3TMUIAD

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 24, 2020

Source: The South African Read More