COVID-19: KZN urged to follow adjusted Level 2 restrictions
Zikalala said President Ramaphosa's announcement to move the country into adjusted Level 2 due to the recent spike in infections, was welcomed
KZN premier Sihle Zikalala has called on the province’s citizens to adhere to the newly-announced Covid-19 restrictions, and to follow the guidelines to avoid entering the third wave of the pandemic.
Zikalala said President Ramaphosa’s announcement to move the country into adjusted Level 2 due to the recent spike in infections, was welcomed.
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‘We welcome this decision as a sign that our government is caring and values the lives of our citizens.
‘As stated by the president, these decisions are based on medical and scientific advice, and the need to prevent our country from descending into a disaster,’ said Premier Zikalala.
‘As of Sunday, KZN had 137 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total in the province to 339 811.
‘While we are not in the third wave (as defined) as yet as a province, we have seen a steady rise in numbers in the past week.
‘On Saturday, we had 160 new cases. On Friday, the number of new cases stood at 135, while on Thursday, we had 150 new cases. ‘But if you go back just a few weeks, to 3 May, you will see that we only had 65 new cases.
‘So the numbers are fluctuating. Sadly, our province has, to date, lost 10 510 people to this deadly virus. Therefore, we once again urge citizens to adhere to all the safety precautions,’ said Zikalala.
The premier said this latest move is a critical balancing act by government, which intends to save lives while at the same time making the choice to protect the economy and livelihoods.
‘The economy must be assisted to recover, but we must also contain the spread.
‘We will use the adjusted Level 2 strategy to accelerate the vaccination roll-out.
‘KZN will this week be focused on the elderly and those who qualify for vaccinations at this point. We are taking proactive steps to react faster so we save lives.’
Premier Zikalala’s message is that behaviour is crucial in curbing the spread of the virus.
‘Individuals must take responsibility and not organise or be part of super-spreader events including funerals, parties and other large gatherings.
‘Wear your masks at all times, wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser, and maintain social distancing.’
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