SA’s COVID-19 hot-spots: Ramaphosa lists eight ‘areas of concern’
Cyril Ramaphosa has given South Africa an ultimatum: Behave, or face a second wave. The president addressed the nation on Wednesday, and rather than leaning towards a stricter version of lockdown, some restrictions were actually lifted. However, he also revealed that a number of ‘COVID-19 hot-spots’ had resurfaced.
Ramaphosa address: What lockdown restrictions changed?
In between warnings about the resurgence of coronavirus and the importance of wearing a mask, President Ramaphosa revealed that alcohol sales could return to normal trading hours, and all international travellers will be allowed to visit South Africa – subject to several health requirements. But the head of state remained vocal about the threat within.
Ramaphosa remains particularly concerned about the Eastern Cape, where infection rates have surged:
"What we are witnessing in Eastern Cape should be a wake-up call to all of us, that we cannot relax and we cannot be complacent. We are closely monitoring developments in areas that are experiencing higher than average rates of new infections." – President Ramaphosa #COVID19SA
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) November 11, 2020
Where are the latest COVID-19 hot-spots in South Africa?
In total, Cyril Ramaphosa identified eight “areas of concern”, across four different provinces. This was based on where the infection rates are noticeably higher than the national average:
- Lejweleputswa and Mangaung in the Free State.
- Frances Baard and Pixley ka Seme in the Northern Cape.
- The Garden Route and Cape Town Metro in the Western Cape.
- The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
Ramaphosa reveals COVID-19 hot-spots
Lockdown has been a hard, eight-month slog. And as fatigued as many of us may feel, we still have a duty to protect each other – if not ourselves. Cyril Ramaphosa has pleaded with his ‘fellow South Africans’ to make sure we’re wearing masks and sanitising our hands properly, as the hectic December season – known for its gatherings and mass travel – approaches.
As a country, we have given up a lot since March: Alcohol, cigarettes, and even certain types of clothing were sacrificed during the harder levels of lockdown. While South Africa may have avoided dropping down to a stronger Alert Phase on Wednesday, it’s clear that the president is willing to take that step if needs be.
“Some of us seem to be forgetting about the coronavirus. As I speak to you this evening, the pandemic is worsening across the globe. More countries are in the midst of a second wave. COVID-19 is far from over, it will be with us for some time.”
Cyril Ramaphosa
No hard lockdown… yet
Mzansi hasn’t gone back a step on the ‘lockdown ladder’ since July – and even then, the terminology seemed dubious. South Africa went from Level 3 to Advanced Level 3; a move that extended curfew and removed booze from the shelves for a second time during this pandemic. However, if current trends worsen, another ‘relegation’ could resurface.
A hard lockdown is generally opposed by the experts, including government advisors. However, politicians in both KZN and the Eastern Cape are both open to the return of stricter regulations – even if the move would prove unpopular with citizens.
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