Tag Archive for: Flatten the Curve

Andrew Stegmann

South Africa’s Lock-down Extended by 2 Weeks

South Africa’s lockdown will be extended by an two extra weeks, president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced.

In an address to the nation on Thursday night (9 April), Ramaphosa said while it is still too early to gauge the real effect of the lockdown on the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa, initial data shows that it is definitely having an impact.

Notably, the rate of daily infections has slowed from 42% per day, to 4%. However, he warned that the country was still in early days of the outbreak, and harder times were still to come.

“After careful consideration of the available evidence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to extend the nation-wide lockdown by a further two week beyond the initial 21 days,” the president said.

“This means that most of the existing measures will remain in force until the end of April.”

“If we end the lockdown too soon or too abruptly, we risk an uncontrollable resurgence of the disease. We risk undoing the work done during the last few weeks,” he said.

“I have to ask you to bear these hard times for a little longer.”

The lockdown was initially expected to end on 16 April, but the end date has now been moved to the end of the month.

During this time, Ramaphosa said that testing and screening will be ramped up, and healthcare would take top priority. Most of the regulations and measures already in effect, will remain, he said.

Ramaphosa first declared the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster on 15 March, and announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown a few days later on 23 March.

While the lockdown was initially planned for 21 days, or three weeks, warnings have been coming in across different sectors that it would likely be extended.

Netcare – the country’s largest healthcare provider – previously warned that the lockdown could be extended to the end of May; while preliminary research by Boston Consulting Group pointed to various scenarios, some of which saw the lockdown extended for two to four months, depending on many variables.

Lockdowns have been extended in every country that implemented them, and have proven to be effective in stopping the spread of the virus.

However, South Africa is in a particularly volatile situation with the lockdown, as its economy – which recently lost its only remaining investment grade rating by Moody’s – can ill-afford a wide-reaching shutdown in production.

“I am keenly aware of the impact this will have on our economy,” the president said. “But I know, as you do, that unless we take these difficult measures now, unless we hold to this course for a little longer, the coronavirus pandemic will engulf, and ultimately consume, our country.

“We all want the economy to come back to life, we want people to return to work, we want our children to go back to school, and we all want to be able to move freely again,” Ramaphosa said.

While the banks, financiers and billionaires have put forward funding to assist struggling businesses and employees during this time, the longer the lockdown is in effect, the worse the situation becomes for workers.

According to the South African Reserve Bank’s estimates, over 370,000 people are expected to be jobless after three weeks – while economists are more bearish on the situation, pointing to 1 million jobs lost, or 1.6 million in an extended lockdown scenario.

Intellidex analyst, Peter Attard Montalto said that in a three-week lockdown, South Africa’s funding shortfall would be R119 billion. In a nine-week lockdown, this would escalate to around R350 billion.

Economic impact aside, Ramaphosa made it clear that the alternative would be worse for the country – having the virus rapidly spread among the population, crippling the healthcare system in the process, would be a catastrophe.

“Our decision to institute a nationwide lockdown was the correct one,” he said.

“We will use the coming days to evaluate how we will embark on risk-adjusted measures that can enable a phased recovery of the economy, allowing the return to operation of certain sectors under strictly controlled conditions.”

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

South Africa Begins Massive Coronavirus Testing Drive

Government will in the coming days roll out a large-scale screening, testing, tracing and a medical management programme, to manage the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We are now entering a new phase in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 10,000 field workers will be visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

The President was addressing the nation, after recently declaring the National State of Disaster to combat the pandemic. His address comes as South Africa went into a nation-wide lockdown for the first time in the history of its democracy on Thursday March 26th, at midnight.

“People with symptoms will be referred to local clinics or mobile clinics for testing. People who are infected with Coronavirus, but who have no or moderate symptoms will remain in isolation at home or at a facility provided by government and those with severe symptoms will be transferred to hospitals,” the president said.

“Using mobile technology, an extensive tracing system will be rapidly deployed to trace those who have been in contact with confirmed Coronavirus cases and to monitor the geographical location of new cases in real time,” the President said.

The number of infections continues to grow as there are now 1,326 confirmed Coronavirus cases in South Africa.

“As a nation, we were deeply saddened to learn that, in the last few days, three South Africans have died from the disease. We convey our sympathies and condolences to their families and friends and to their communities,” the president said.

South Africans urged to stay home

President Ramaphosa reiterated his call to South African to stay at home during the lock-down period.

“Leave your home only if you need to get food and essential provisions, collect a social grant, buy medicine or get urgent medical care.

“The only people who can go to work are health workers, security and emergency personnel, those who work to keep our people supplied with food, medicine and basic goods and other providers of essential services as defined in the regulations,” he said.

The president said people who do go out should do everything they can not to get infected and not to infect anyone else.

“Some people may think this disease is something that doesn’t concern them and will never affect them. That it is something they only read about in newspapers or see reports about on TV.

“But it is very real, and it poses a great danger to every one of us and to our society. Let us not make the mistake of thinking this is somebody else’s problem. Every time you violate the regulations the government has issued or try to get around the rules, you are putting yourself and others at risk, and helping the virus to spread,” the president said.

Reaction to Moody’ decision to downgrade SA

The president noted that the pandemic is happening at a time when the country’s economy is under great strain.

Rating agency Moody’s recently downgraded South Africa to a sub-investment grade.

He assured South Africans that this development will not diminish in any way the country’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are pushing ahead to implement the necessary health interventions and economic and social measures to contain the spread of the disease and alleviate its effects on our people.

“Within the constraints of the current crisis, we remain committed to implementing structural economic reforms to address weak economic growth, constrained public finances and struggling state-owned enterprises,” the president said.

Government is working together with its social partners to identify further measures that South Africa can take to limit the damage to the economy.

“Even as our country faces deep and pressing challenges on several fronts, there is no doubt in my mind that we will prevail.

“That is because South Africans have come together like never before to wage this struggle against this virus. Many businesses and individuals are making financial and other contributions to this cause,” the President said.

The president thanked the many businesses and individuals who are making financial and other contributions to this cause.

A nation pulling together

In addition to the financial pledges announced last week, the President welcomed the contribution by the Motsepe Foundation of R1 billion and by Naspers of R1.5 billion to the Coronavirus response.

“We are also extremely grateful to Mr Jack Ma, the founder of the China-based company Alibaba, who has donated vital medical supplies to South Africa and other countries across Africa.”

In a moving tribute, president Ramaphosa thanked the nurses, doctors and other health workers, social workers and frontline government staff, volunteers and NGOs who are leading the fight against the disease.

He thanked the 18,000 security personnel, drawn from the police, defence force, metro police and other entities, that are responsible for ensuring our safety.

“And then there is each of you, the 58 million South African citizens and residents who are standing together as one in confronting this national health emergency. Among us are the men and women who rise at dawn every day, and labour through the night to keep this country going.

“I speak of the farmworker who is helping to keep us supplied with food. I speak of the technician in the power station working shift after shift to keep the lights on. I speak of the caregiver in the old-age home, the childcare home and the hospice, who comes in every day to tend to the most vulnerable of our citizens.

“To the taxi driver, the refuse collector, the supermarket cashier, the hospital cleaner, the petrol attendant and all those essential services workers, you are our unsung heroes, and we salute you,” said the president.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Nigerian Government: COVID Lock-down Announcement

The below information was provided to us courtesy of Advocaat Law Practice.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has placed the city of Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Ogun states on lock-down for an initial period of 14 days, with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30 March 2020.

The order will not be applicable to the following:

  1. Hospitals and all related medical establishments ass well as organizations in healthcare-related manufacturing and distribution.
  2. Commercial establishments such as food processing, distribution and retail companies; petroleum distribution and retail entities; power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and private security companies.
  3. Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff, who can prove they are unable to work from home.
  4. All seaports in Lagos, and vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargo from these ports to other parts of the country.
  5. All vehicles conveying food and other essential humanitarian items into the movement restriction locations from other parts of the country.

Though exempted, the above establishments/persons and their access will be restricted and monitored.

In addition to the movement restriction orders by the President and the provision or relief materials for persons whose livelihood will be affected by the restrictive measures, the government has also released an initial N15 billion intervention fund to support vulnerable members of society. Lastly, the President directed that a 3 month repayment moratorium be granted for all Federal Government-funded loans issued by the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, and the Nigeria Export Import Bank

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Benin: COVID-19 Status

Authorities in Benin announced on Monday, March 23, that starting from Monday, March 30, quarantines will be put in place around most affected cities, including Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Allada, Ouidah, Sèmè-Podji, Porto-Novo, Akpro-Missérété, and Adjarra to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). People within these cities will only be allowed to move for essential reasons (health, food supply). As such, all public transportation will be suspended until further notice.

School holidays have been declared from March 30, until Monday, April 13. People are being advised to minimize their movements within the country and to avoid gatherings on public places (beaches, public squares). Land border crossings have also been limited; only necessary crossings agreed with neighbouring countries will be allowed. Strict control measures have been implemented at border checkpoints. Travelers entering Benin by air must undergo a 14-days quarantine.

As of Tuesday, March 24, there five cases of COVID-19 in the country. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term.

Context
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice
Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.

• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.

• If experiencing a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].