President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced that with
just over 100 days since the first coronavirus infection in SA, 1,674 people
have died but added that several business sectors, including restaurants and
hairdressers, will be allowed to open up.
He was addressing the nation on developments in SA’s
risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19.
Ramaphosa's address follows a number of meetings of the
cabinet, the national coronavirus command council and the presidential
co-ordinating council.
He said the disease had caused massive disruption to the
lives of people and threatened the livelihoods of millions, but he expressed
optimism following what he deemed a “breakthrough” because of the discovery of
an existing drug, discovered by the Oxford University in London which could
assist in the treatment of the disease.
The drug, dexamethasone, is also manufactured in SA. “It
has been recommended that this drug be used on patients on ventilators and
those on oxygen supply,” Ramaphosa said.
Since the start of the outbreak, there have been 80,412
cases recorded in SA, with 55% recoveries recorded. Currently, the country
stood at 34,000 active cases.
Ramaphosa said the pandemic was a global economic crisis,
severely disrupting the livelihoods of millions of people.
He added that he had previously indicated the government
would look at ways to help some business sectors open up.
This was why the government had decided to ease lockdown
restrictions in the following sectors: Restaurants for sit-down meals,
accredited and licensed accommodation, conferences and meetings for business
purposes, cinemas and theatres - aligned to limitations on the gathering of
people - casinos, personal care services, including hairdressers and beauty
services and non-contact sport, while contact sport will be allowed to train.
Sowetan
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