Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has addressed the nation on Thursday, detailing the finer points of our impending shift to Level 3 of lockdown. As well as clarifying the regulations of trade and industry, NDZ tackled a more contentious matter – the fate of South Africa’s ‘coronavirus hot-spots’.
What will happen with South Africa’s coronavirus hot-spots at Level 3?
Dlamini-Zuma explained the following rules would apply to areas facing the toughest battle against COVID-19: She confirmed that the affected areas may be put under more ‘stringent measures’ if infection rates continue to rise sharply:
“Unfortunately, the risk of an increase in infections is greater now than it ever has been. We have given each district their own level. However, our state of lockdown continues until we flatten the curve for a sustainable period. Risk levels will be determined by the input of experts, the health minister, and the rest of the cabinet.”
“These Levels are applicable at a provincial, metropolitan and district level – that’s unless a differentiated alert Level is needed for specific hot-spots. As we apply Level 3 nationwide, the minister of health may implement more stringent measures in 12 key hot-spots, depending on the virus’ spread.”
“These areas will experience more stringent measures, and there will be limitations on movement – if we have to put harder rules in place for these hot-spots. The movement between districts and hot-spots may be prohibited, barring work and medical exceptions.”
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
The latest on our coronavirus hot-spots
Cape Town, Johannesburg and almost every major metro in the country has seen their infection rates rise higher than anywhere else. The Western Cape is particularly vulnerable, with the Eastern Cape and West Rand of Gauteng also sparking causes for concern.
Earlier in the week, President Ramaphosa told us that the entire nation would move forward into Level 3, but there will be caveats for these identified coronavirus hot-spots. Their status will be reviewed every two weeks, and progress in fighting the spread of this disease will be boosted by specialist teams of medical professionals. The locations include:
- Tshwane
- Johannesburg
- Ekurhuleni
- eThekwini
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Buffalo City
- Cape Town
- West Coast
- Overberg
- Cape Winelands
- Chris Hani District (Eastern Cape)
- iLembe (KZN)
The possibility of returning to Level 4
Should infection rates continue to rise at an alarming pace, these hard-hit districts can be pushed back to Level 4. In extreme cases, Level 5 regulation can be enforced upon a particular region.
Earlier in the week, a fair bit of fuss was created by Zweli Mkhize. The health minister was probed for allegedly claiming that our coronavirus hot-spots would be held back in their current level of lockdown. However, this was dismissed on Wednesday, with Mkhize blaming an ‘erroneous PowerPoint slide’ for the confusion.
Source: The South African Read More
