Thread by @PresidencyZA

President #Ramaphosa: My fellow South Africans,

It is a week since we declared the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster and announced a package of extraordinary measures to combat this grave public health emergency.

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President #Ramaphosa: The response of the South African people to this crisis has been remarkable. Millions of our people have understood the gravity of the situation.

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President #Ramaphosa: Most South Africans have accepted the restrictions that have been placed on their lives and have taken responsibility for changing their behaviour. I am heartened that every sector of society has been mobilised & has accepted the role that it needs to play.

President #Ramaphosa: From religious leaders to sporting associations, from political parties to business people, from trade unions to traditional leaders, from NGOs to public servants, every part of our society has come forward to confront this challenge.

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President #Ramaphosa: Many have had to make difficult choices and sacrifices, but all have been determined that these choices and sacrifices are absolutely necessary if our country is to emerge stronger from this disaster.

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President #Ramaphosa: Over the past week, South Africans have demonstrated their determination, their sense of purpose, their sense of community and their sense of responsibility.

For this, we salute you and we thank you.

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President #Ramaphosa: On behalf of the nation, I would like to thank the health workers, our doctors, nurses & paramedics who are on the frontline of the pandemic, our teachers, border officials, police & traffic officers & all the other people who have been leading our response.

President #Ramaphosa: Since the national state of disaster was declared, we have put in place a range of regulations and directives.

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President #Ramaphosa: These regulations have restricted international travel, prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people, closed schools and other educational institutions and restricted the sale of alcohol after 6pm.

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President #Ramaphosa: We reiterate that the most effective way to prevent infection is through basic changes in individual behaviour and hygiene.

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We are therefore once more calling on everyone to:
- wash hands frequently with hand sanitisers or soap & water for 20 seconds;
- cover our nose & mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow;
- avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.

President #Ramaphosa: Everyone must do everything within their means to avoid contact with other people. Staying at home, avoiding public places and cancelling all social activities is the preferred best defence against the virus.

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President #Ramaphosa: Over the past week, as we have been implementing measures, the global crisis has deepened.When I addressed the nation last Sunday there were over 160,000 confirmed #COVID19 cases worldwide. Today, there are over 340,000 confirmed cases across the world.

President #Ramaphosa: In South Africa, the number of confirmed cases has increased six-fold in just eight days from 61 cases to 402 cases.

This number will continue to rise.

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President #Ramaphosa: It is clear from the development of the disease in other countries & from our own modelling that immediate, swift and extraordinary action is required if we are to prevent a human catastrophe of enormous proportions in our country.

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President #Ramaphosa: Our fundamental task at this moment is to contain the spread of the disease.

I am concerned that a rapid rise in infections will stretch our health services beyond what we can manage and many people will not be able to access the care they need.

President #Ramaphosa: We must therefore do everything within our means to reduce the overall number of infections and to delay the spread of infection over a longer period – what is known as flattening the curve of infections.

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President #Ramaphosa: It is essential that every person in this country adheres strictly – and without exception – to the regulations that have already been put in place and to the measures that I am going to announce this evening.

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President #Ramaphosa: Our analysis of the progress of the epidemic informs us that we need to urgently and dramatically escalate our response.

The next few days are crucial.

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President #Ramaphosa: Without decisive action, the number of people infected will rapidly increase from a few hundred to tens of thousands, and within a few weeks to hundreds of thousands.

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President #Ramaphosa: This is extremely dangerous for a population like ours, with a large number of people with suppressed immunity because of HIV and TB, and high levels of poverty and malnutrition.

We have learnt a great deal from the experiences of other countries.

President #Ramaphosa: Those countries that have acted swiftly and dramatically have been far more effective in controlling the spread of the disease.

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President #Ramaphosa: As a consequence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to enforce a nation-wide lockdown for 21 DAYS with effect from midnight on Thursday 26 March.

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President #Ramaphosa: This is a decisive measure to save millions of South Africans from infection and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

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President #Ramaphosa: While this measure will have a considerable impact on people’s livelihoods, on the life of our society and on our economy, the human cost of delaying this action would be far, far greater.

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President #Ramaphosa: The nation-wide lockdown will be enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act and will entail the following:

- From midnight on Thursday 26 March until midnight on Thursday 16 April, all South Africans will have to #stayathome.

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President #Ramaphosa: The categories of people who will be exempted from this lockdown are the following: health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services –

President #Ramaphosa: - such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers – and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic.

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President #Ramaphosa: It will also include those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water, and

President #Ramaphosa:...telecommunications services, laboratory services, and the provision of medical and hygiene products. A full list of essential personnel will be published.

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President #Ramaphosa: - Individuals will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances, such as to seek medical care, buy food, medicine and other supplies or collect a social grant.

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President #Ramaphosa: - Temporary shelters that meet the necessary hygiene standards will be identified for homeless people. Sites are also being identified for quarantine and self-isolation for people who cannot self-isolate at home.

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President #Ramaphosa: All shops and businesses will be closed, except for pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial and payment services, including the JSE, supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers.

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President #Ramaphosa: Companies that are essential to the production and transportation of food, basic goods and medical supplies will remain open. We will publish a full list of the categories of businesses that should remain open.
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President #Ramaphosa: Companies whose operations require continuous processes such as furnaces, underground mine operations will be required to make arrangements for care and maintenance to avoid damage to their continuous operations.
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President #Ramaphosa: Firms that are able to continue their operations remotely should do so.

- Provision will be made for essential transport services to continue, including transport for essential staff & for patients who need to be managed elsewhere.

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President #Ramaphosa: The nation-wide lockdown is necessary to fundamentally disrupt the chain of transmission across society.

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President #Ramaphosa: I have accordingly directed the South African National Defence Force be deployed to support the South African Police Service in ensuring that the measures we are announcing are implemented. #COVID19 #CoronaVirusSA

President #Ramaphosa: This nationwide #lockdown will be accompanied by a public health management programme which will significantly increase screening, testing, contact tracing and medical management.

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President #Ramaphosa: Community health teams will focus on expanding screening and testing where people live, focusing first on high density and high-risk areas.

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