President #Ramaphosa: Our greatest challenge now – and our most important task – is to ensure that we do not experience a new surge in infections.
Several countries around the world have been hit by a ‘second wave’ or a resurgence of infections.
President #Ramaphosa: A number of these countries had passed the peak of the disease and had seemingly brought the virus under control.
Some of them had even lifted most of the restrictions on economic and social activity.
President #Ramaphosa: In many cases, the second wave has been more severe than the first. Several countries have had to re-impose a hard lockdown. Our public health response is now focused on further reducing the transmission of the virus and preparing for a possible resurgence.
President #Ramaphosa: We have now taken a decision to keep increasing coronavirus testing.
Due to the decline in new infections and the reduced pressure on our health facilities, we now have sufficient testing capacity to expand the criteria for testing.
President #Ramaphosa: Among the categories of people we will now be able to test are all those who are admitted to hospital, outpatients with COVID symptoms, and individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed cases whether or not they themselves have symptoms.
President #Ramaphosa: Alongside increased testing, we are improving contact tracing through the deployment of the COVID Alert South Africa mobile phone app and the COVID Connect WhatsApp platform.
President #Ramaphosa: Effective testing and contact tracing systems will allow us to quickly identify and contain outbreaks before they spread further.
President #Ramaphosa: I want to make a call this evening to everyone who has a smartphone in South Africa to download the #COVIDAlertSA app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app has been zero-rated by mobile networks, so you can download it without data costs.
President #Ramaphosa: Using Bluetooth technology, the app will alert any user if they have been in close contact with any other user who has tested positive for coronavirus in the past 14 days.
President #Ramaphosa: The app is completely anonymous, it does not gather any personal information, nor does it track anybody's location.
President #Ramaphosa: The Department of Health has also developed WhatsApp and SMS systems for people without smartphones to provide them with test results and alert them to any possible exposure to the virus.
President #Ramaphosa: Contact tracing is an important preventative measure to protect yourself and your close family and friends.
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