A Special Adviser at the Department of Health, Dr Bevan Goqwana has attributed a spike in coronavirus cases in the Eastern Cape due to, what he calls, bad behaviour.
The Eastern Cape has the fourth-highest number of cases in South Africa – having recorded over 91 000 infections and 3 300 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
#COVID19 Statistics in SA as at 13 October.
Use the COVID Alert SA app to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Start using this privacy preserving app today. Add your phone to the fight! Download the Covid Alert SA app now! https://t.co/8YKEqaiiRF pic.twitter.com/8Vlp80eBRY
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) October 13, 2020
Goqwana says people are likely to have misinterpreted the alert level one safety regulations – resulting in complacency in wearing masks and practising social distancing.
“I definitely think that what probably happened, because the numbers are slightly coming up, when we were told that we are going to level one, I am sure a lot of people misinterpreted that as if we are saying everything is free for all.”
“People started being loose and forgetting about the things that they are supposed to do to make sure that we don’t make the coronavirus spread. You actually see a lot of people going around without masks, being close to each other and even hugging each other which are the things we are not supposed to be doing,” explains Goqwana.
Click on the audio clip to listen for more:
Earlier this week, scientists warned of a second surge in coronavirus cases in South Africa over the next few weeks.
Wits University Professor Bruce Milado, who is also a member of the Gauteng COVID-19 Advisory Committee, said the model his team is using shows that the risk of the second surge is high.
The team has been monitoring countries like France and Spain which experienced a peak in infections in March.
The situation stabilised in the middle of the year but has peaked yet again.
In the video below, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize gives an update on coronavirus in South Africa:
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has also urged people to continue practicing good hygiene, observe social distancing and wear face masks.
#COVID19 Statistics in SA as at 13 October.
Use the COVID Alert SA app to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Start using this privacy preserving app today. Add your phone to the fight! Download the Covid Alert SA app now! https://t.co/8YKEqaiiRF pic.twitter.com/8Vlp80eBRY
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) October 13, 2020
