South Africa’s minister of health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, made it clear on Tuesday evening that if a resurgence of Covid-19 is to come, South Africa is better prepared. &nbsp;



Responding to a question on whether the country will go back to a hard lockdown, at the fifth annual FORBES AFRICA Philips Future of Health Summit, the minister, who was a guest of honor, stated: “The second<a href="blank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;</a>Covid-19 wave has not reached us as yet. We are not immediately envisaging a lockdown level 5. We are focusing on containment measures and are encouraging others to do so.” &nbsp;



He emphasized that there will be enough warning “long before” further lockdown measures should a second wave of the pandemic strike.&nbsp;



“The possibility of another surge is a reality but we are prepared,” he said, at the virtual event themed&nbsp;Next Generation Healthcare in South Africa – Balancing Workforce Expectations &amp; Health System Realities.&nbsp;



South Africa moved to alert level one of its lockdown in September after seven months of international and interprovincial travel bans, strict curfew regulations as well as a controversial suspension of alcohol sales. Returning to a hard lockdown would result in a further crippling of South Africa’s already ailing economy. &nbsp;



“Although we have made remarkable progress, we must remember people are still getting infected and people are still losing their lives. By any measure, we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa after announcing the advancement to level one on September 16. &nbsp;



And though the president is due to address the nation this week to speak about the developments of the country’s risk-adjusted strategy to mitigate the spread of the virus according to Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, the health minister has said that South Africa is better prepared for a second wave. &nbsp;

South African  Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize visits Clairwood Hospital in Durban ahead of the expected peak in the Province

‘Not Envisaging Lockdown Level 5’: South Africa’s Health Minister

After almost six months of travel restrictions to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced to the nation at 19:00 CAT today, Wednesday, September 16, that from October 1, borders will reopen and restricted international travel will be allowed.



“We are ready to open our doors again to the world, and invite travelers to enjoy our mountains, our beaches, our vibrant cities and our wildlife game parks in safety and confidence,” Ramaphosa said to the nation in a virtual address.



However, international travel is restricted to and from countries that have high infection rates and limited to only South Africa’s big main airports: King Shaka, OR Tambo, and Cape Town International Airport. Furthermore, on arrival, passengers will need to present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from the time of departure.



“Where a traveler has not done a Covid-19 test prior to departure, they will be required to remain in mandatory quarantine at their own cost,” Ramaposa added. “All travelers will also be asked to install the Covid Alert South Africa mobile app.”



Whilst that aspect of Alert Level 1 is only active at the beginning of October, South Africa will officially move to the new level from Monday, September 21.



“Although we have made remarkable progress, we must remember people are still getting infected and people are still losing their lives. By any measure, we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic,” said Ramaphosa.



More people can attend social, religious, political, and other gatherings like funerals, at Alert Level 1. The number of people cannot exceed 50% of the normal capacity of a venue; up to a maximum of 250 people are allowed for indoor gatherings and only 500 people can be at outdoor gatherings. Furthermore, gyms, cinemas, and theaters will now be allowed to accommodate up to 50% of their venue capacity as determined by available floor space.



At the height of the country&#8217;s pandemic peak in July, South Africa recorded around 12,000 new cases a day. Ramaposa stated that now, on average, the country is recording less than 2,000 cases a day and a recovery rate of 89%. These figures contribute to the cabinet&#8217;s decision to return to some form of economic normalcy.



“We have withstood the coronavirus storm. Now is the time to return our country, its people, and our economy to a situation that is more normal, that more resembles the lives that we were living six months ago. It is time to move to what will become our new normal for as long as the coronavirus is with us,” the president said.

Tag: Level 1

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

‘Not Envisaging Lockdown Level 5’: South Africa’s Health Minister

South Africa To Move to Level 1 Allowing Restricted International Travel From Oct 1