Ramaphosa: Govt ‘to take whatever action necessary’ to protect against Covid-19
President Cyril Ramaphosa has again moved to sound the alarm on the rapid rise in Covid-19 infections, warning that “the coronavirus presents a real danger to all of us”.
This comes after the country’s coronavirus deaths passed 1,000 on Monday and infections spiked to over 50,000.
On Tuesday, Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“Yesterday, 8 June 2020, marked a solemn milestone in our country’s fight against the coronavirus, as the number of our fellow citizens who have lost their lives to this disease passed the 1000 mark reaching 1080,” the president said in a statement.
“Each one of these deaths is a tragedy.”
Ramaphosa also lauded government’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
“We have used the time we bought during the lockdown to build the capacity of our health system, adding thousands of hospital and quarantine beds, securing adequate medical supplies and personal protective equipment, and putting training and protocols in place at all of our healthcare facilities to prepare for an increase in infections,” he said.
“These measures will prove invaluable as the number of cases continues to increase. Indeed, this is the moment that we have prepared for. We have been advised by experts that the epidemic will become worse before it gets better.”
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He added that the government would, in the weeks and months ahead, continue to take all action necessary to safeguard the lives of citizens.
“It is therefore crucial that all South Africans adhere to the restrictions that remain in place and continue to take basic precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. These precautions remain our best defence against the coronavirus and are necessary to save lives,” Ramaphosa said.
Government recently suffered blow after the High Court in Pretoria declared levels 3 and 4 of the lockdown regulations unconstitutional and invalid, giving government 14 days to remedy the situation.
Government has since indicated that it would appeal the ruling.