Eastern Cape residents are eagerly awaiting an announcement on the closure of beaches and other recreational spaces in the province.
Spokesperson for the office of the premier, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha says they have already communicated with the national government about its decision regarding the province.
“We have communicated the decision to the national government with the intention of this being a national decision that will also cover other coastal provinces.”
“There is a lot of traffic between these (sic). So, it would help stopping the spread of the virus and infecting other parts of the country. We are also looking at other issues like preparations for funerals where there is a lot of cooking and slaughtering and utensils exchanging hands.”
Eastern Cape COVID-19 cases a concern:
The increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases continues in the Eastern Cape.
In the last reporting period, 1 877 cases were recorded with 97 new deaths..
Numbers show that the Buffalo City Metro has overtaken Nelson Mandela Bay Metro with the number of new cases.
Over 400 new cases were reported in Buffalo City while 300 were recorded in Nelson Mandela Bay.
There is also an increase in the rate of infections amongst health workers in the metros.
While addressing the nation in early December, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Nelson Mandela Bay as a COVID-19 hotspot.
He announced a 10 PM to 4 AM curfew in the metro, among other restrictions.
“The curfew will be from 10PM to 4AM. This does not apply to essential workers. The sale of alcohol from retail outlets will only be permitted between 10AM and 6PM from Monday to Thursday. Alcohol consumption in public spaces such as beaches and parks is strictly forbidden. Gatherings, including religious gatherings, may not be attended by more than 100 people for indoor and 250 for outdoor events. And finally, all post-funeral gatherings are prohibited.”
