Thread by @PresidencyZA

President #Ramaphosa: Fellow South Africans, I am addressing you this evening on a matter of great national importance. The world is facing a medical emergency far graver than what we have experienced in over a century.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic. There are now more than 162 000 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus across the globe.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: Given the scale and the speed at which the virus is spreading, it is now clear that no country is immune from the disease or will be spared its severe impact.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: Never before in the history of our democracy has our country been confronted with such a severe situation.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: From the start of the outbreak in China earlier this year, the South African government has put in place measures to screen visitors entering the country, to contain its spread and to treat those infected.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: As of now, South Africa has 61 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus, and this number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: Initially, it was people who had travelled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus. It is concerning that we are now dealing with transmission of the virus internal transmission.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: This situation calls for an extraordinary response; there can be no half-measures.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: Cabinet held a special meeting earlier today. We have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country and reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: We have now declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
 
#CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: This is will enable us to have an integrated and coordinated disaster management mechanism that will focus on preventing and reducing the outbreak of this virus. We will also be able to set up emergency, rapid and effective response systems.