All the provinces have taken strain. It is expected that #COVID19 will exacerbate problems that we've had before. #QuestionTime@Newzroom405
The 1st issue was to focus on the weak management of the health system. We decided that we are going to put up a team called the Project Management Unit. #QuestionTime@Newzroom405
The 2nd aspect is to look at all the beds that are available and make sure the necessary equipment is well structured to service those beds.#QuestionTime@Newzroom405
My message to South Africans is that we can beat #COVID19 but it is up to us in the way we behave. We need to wear a mask when we leave home, social distance, wash hands and sanitize, and observe etiquette. #QuestionTime@Newzroom405
If we change our behaviour, we can change the numbers of people who are infected.#QuestionTime@Newzroom405
If we are not practising social behavioural changes, #COVID19 will continue to spread. The numbers will always grow depending on how well as a community we can break the cycle.#QuestionTime@Newzroom405
What we expect is that the numbers are still likely to increase. We expect in terms of the models that in August and September we will still have high numbers. Each province has got its own trajectory.#QuestionTime@Newzroom405
The plan for the Eastern Cape, a plan has been submitted to myself, the Premier and MEC. The plan entails what needs to be done in the relevant facilities. The province has renovated and added additional beds. These interventions are going to make a difference.#QuestionTime
Cuban doctors are serving in all provinces. They are making a difference. We have also brought in medical students to work together with them.#QuestionTime
We have not filled all field hospital beds or all ICU beds yet. However we also have an agreement with private sector that should the need arise for more beds, we will work together.#QuestionTime@Newzroom405
The decisions that we make are in the best interest of our people. The use of masks and distancing etc. is the best way of saving everyone from infection, including our children. #QuestionTime@Newzroom405
This fight is about us behaving differently to how we did before #COVID19. There is now a new way of living.We need to say, I will make sure that I am protecting others, by protecting myself too.#QuestionTime@Newzroom405
Anyone who has been diagnosed positive, that person will be recorded and reflected on our stats. #QuestionTime@Newzroom405
We are still concerned about the numbers for August. The pattern varies according to Province. The Western Cape numbers are now reducing, KZN is the one that is now on the rise. #QuestionTime@Newzroom405
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I thought about this day many times and wished it would never come or at least not now!!
Remembering the first day we went as team led by Nxamalala in 1994 as the 3 newly appointed ANC MECs in Kzn
We reached NND around 22:00
Isilo came out of kwaKhangela Palace opened his arms and said “welcome home” and gave loud laugh as we were ushered in
We had dinner at 01:00 and toured all palaces waking up the oNdlunkulu to greet and we left Nongoma 06:30.
As we joined caucus in legislature in Pietermaritzburg at 11:00, we were still in disbelief of the night gone by as we gave the account to our comrades.
The government’s process of procuring vaccines preceded the discovery of the 501Y.V2 variant and other variants. #VaccineRolloutSA
Before the efficacy results, SA could not delay receipt of the vaccine batches to await the results of the efficacy studies by our scientists, as this would have relegated the country to the back of the line for vaccines due to global shortage of supplies. #VaccineRolloutSA
There are concerns in the public domain about the expiry date of the received AstraZeneca vaccine batches (30th April 2021).#VaccineRolloutSA
We have always said the second wave is going to be coming and the only way we will be protected is by developing herd immunity through vaccination. #VaccineStrategy
The only way of being able to deal with the #COVID19 pandemic is the provision of immunity through vaccination. We have been trying to follow what the best way is to deal with this. #VaccineStrategy
The vaccines will need to be made available quickly so that most of our citizens are
covered by the end of the first year of rollout - this year. #VaccineStrategy
28 469 South Africans are known to have succumbed to COVID-19 this year- amongst those were 436 public health care workers who paid the ultimate price in the frontline. #NYECandleLighting
Our health care workers continue to bravely fight this war even though they have been pushed beyond their call of duty. #NYECandleLighting
But we must remember that as the rate of transmission rises so too do the infections amongst health care workers rise. To date, we have recorded a cumulative 43 124 health care workers who became infected with #COVID19. #NYECandleLighting