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How many infections are there in South Africa?
As of September 15 2020, South Africa has 651 521 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease, Covid-19.
We will update this number with government data as it becomes available.
Where are these infections?
All nine South African provinces have recorded confirmed cases of Covid-19. In a briefing on Wednesday March 25, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said over 50% of the confirmed infections were in Gauteng. He added however, that the Free State is becoming an epicentre of infection due to a church meeting where several congregants have tested positive for Covid-19.
Have there been any fatalities?
Yes.
As of September 15, 15 641 people in South Africa had died from complications related to Covid-19.
Have there been any recoveries?
Yes. To date, there have been 583 126 recoveries.
What does a “national state of disaster” actually mean?
In response to the Covid-19 outbreak President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a “national state of disaster”.
Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act allows Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (the minister designated by the president) to declare a “national state of disaster” if other laws are not adequate to deal with it effectively. The Act also allows the government — under section 27(2) — to make regulations to swiftly authorise the release of resources and personnel to help to deal with the disaster.
Regulations may also be passed to control the movement of people to and from the “disaster-stricken area or threatened area”. There is also a catch-all power, allowing the government to take “other steps that may be necessary to prevent an escalation of the disaster, or to alleviate, contain and minimise the effects of the disaster”.
However, the Act says that these powers given to government may be used as far as is necessary to assist, protect and give relief to the public, protect property, prevent disruption and deal with the effects of the disaster.
Unlike a state of emergency, the declaration of a disaster does not need to be passed by an Act of Parliament. It also lasts longer: a state of emergency lasts 21 days but under the Disaster Management Act, a national state of disaster lapses three months after it has been declared, and the minister may extend or shorten it by notice in the Government Gazette.
What’s the point of the lockdown?
In an interview on SABC News, Health minister Zweli Mkhize said the 21-day lockdown that begins on Friday 27 March, had two main goals.
The first was to stop people travelling over the Easter weekend, when millions of South Africans move between provinces. He said “the level of infection is so small that we can emerge from the quarantine better off,” if people take the ban seriously.
The second goal was to have people at home, where they can be found. This would allow the government to track and trace people with a travel history, and those who might have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. Where people cannot self-quarantine when tested positive, the government was finding places where they could be quarantined, he said.
Because the disease normally takes 14 days to show its symptoms and burn out, Mkhize said the window would allow people with symptoms to get better, or get treatment.
He concluded: “This virus will not be defeated by doctors and nurses. It will be defeated by individuals.”
What’s it looking like in the rest of the world?
The number of Covid-19 cases reached one million in the week beginning March 30.
China is showing signs of recovery reporting a drop in new confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday 25 March as imported infections fell and zero locally transmitted infections were reported, and that’s including the Hubei province.
While Europe is the epicentre of the virus now, the rate of new infections in the US is faster than anywhere else in the world.
So how do you protect yourself?
On its website, the WHO notes that: “The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with Covid-19 coughs or exhales. Other people then catch Covid-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch Covid-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with Covid-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.”
This is why it is important to stay more than one metre away from a person who is sick, the organisation advises.
WHO lists a number of measures that can be taken to reduce your risk of infection. These include:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water;
- Maintain at least a one metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing;
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth;
- Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately; and
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
People who are infected may show no symptoms, so it is advised that people avoid crowds during the outbreak.
And when should you seek medical attention?
The NICD has advised that if a person develops symptoms of Covid-19, and they have reason to believe they have been in contact with someone who has the virus, they are to self-isolate immediately and implement measures to prevent transmission.
“In cases where it is difficult to assess the onset of symptoms, for example in young children or the elderly, self-quarantine for 14 days after return from international travel may be considered as a precautionary measure, the NICD’s website notes.
“In instances where the risk to life and livelihood is considered high, institutions or companies may consider asking persons to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.”
A toll-free public hotline (0800 029 999) has also been set up for people who feel sick with a fever, cough or have difficulty breathing.
Public sector testing is free of charge.
According to the NICD, treatment is supportive, because there is no specific antiviral treatment available. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections, but they may be required if a bacterial secondary infection develops.