President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country and the measures that government will put in place to curb the spread, says acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.<\/p>\n
In a post-cabinet briefing on Thursday (27 May), Ntshavheni said there was growing concern among Ramaphosa’s cabinet around an increase in cases and covid-19 related deaths with an address, colloquially known as a ‘family meeting’, expected shortly.<\/p>\n
Ntshavheni said that the cabinet was discussing further lockdown measures with health officials.<\/p>\n
“We are as cabinet discussing the and consulting on the measures to make sure that we protect South Africans. A decision will be taken soon after the consultations and we will announce the date on which the president will hold the family meeting.<\/p>\n
“We can confirm to South Africans that there will be a family meeting soon.”<\/p>\n
On Tuesday (25 May), the Department of Health says that it will make recommendations to introduce further lockdown restrictions in a National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) meeting.<\/p>\n
Department of health spokesperson Popo Maja said that the recommendations have been made by scientists on South Africa\u2019s Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC).<\/p>\n
He added that the department was greatly concerned about the recent rise in Cold-19 cases, with a clear increase in infections seen in recent weeks as parts of country officially enter a third wave.<\/p>\n
Maja said that the department would highlight these concerns as well as the MAC recommendations as part of its presentation to the NCC.<\/p>\n
While Maja could not comment on the specific interventions being considered, earlier reports have indicated that they focus on gatherings and an extended evening curfew.<\/p>\n
He added that any further restrictions, including a possible reintroduction of controls around alcohol sales, would have to introduced by president Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s cabinet, as this is not a department of health decision.<\/p>\n