Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has delivered an ‘urgent and important’ plea to all South Africans around the country’s flagging response to the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
“As Government, we have mobilized every resource, every faculty and wherewithal at our disposal to effect the necessary interventions. But government cannot manage this unilaterally.<\/p>\n
“Every single South African now needs to focus on adhering to recommendations pertaining to non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging. We see poor or no social distancing in communities.<\/p>\n
“Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly and there is laxity setting in around frequent hand-washing.”<\/p>\n
The minister said that this will directly influence the rise in numbers in the next two weeks. “We must all appreciate that there is a direct causal link between the surge of cases and our ability, or inability, to ad- here to these very basic principles.<\/p>\n
“We do not have a vaccine. We do not have a cure. Our ability to break the cycle of infection depends on our willingness to remain focused and disciplined and take non-pharmaceutical interventions seriously.<\/p>\n
“We can beat this pandemic together. We have already proved this during the lockdown,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It remains in each and every citizen\u2019s hands to admonish family members, colleagues, friends. who refuse to adhere to measures that protect lives by limiting the spread of this virus.”<\/p>\n
\nThis is an urgent and important plea to all South Africans. The fight against #COVID19<\/a> is in our hands. We must act now. pic.twitter.com\/dyqx0QBzIo<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) July 18, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n