THIS Saturday (6 March 2021) marks one year since South Africa confirmed its first case of Covid-19, propelling us on a trajectory that would change every aspect of our lives for the next year… and beyond.
So much has happened in just 12 months and, while we’re sitting at almost 50 000 dead from the virus in the country, we’re also at the start of our vaccination roll-out. Hope is on the horizon.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the Covid-19 journey so far.
The Covid-19 timeline
– 15 March 2020: Our first ‘family meeting’ with President Cyril Ramaphosa when he declares the pandemic is a ‘national disaster’ and outlines the upcoming regulations
– 27 March 2020: The implementation of the National State of Disaster with lockdown measures implemented for 21 days. South Africa records two Covid-19 deaths with infections at more than 1 000
– 9 April 2020: Ramaphosa announces a two-week extension of our ‘hard lockdown’
– 23 April 2020: Ramaphosa outlines the 5 levels of lockdown
– 1 May 2020: South Africa eases into Level 4 of lockdown
– 1 June 2020: South Africa enters Level 3 of lockdown, with alcohol sales resuming within limited hours. Schools and universities will re-open in a phased-in approach. Domestic air travel is permitted for business
– 11 June 2020: More than 1 million Covid-19 tests conducted
– 23 June 2020: First Covid-19 vaccine trial begins in South Africa
– 9 July 2020: South Africa confirms highest number of infections in one day, at 13 674
– 12 July 2020: Alcohol sales banned to alleviate pressure on hospitals, and curfew is introduced
– 23 July 2020: South African schools closed temporarily amid rising numbers
– 18 August 2020: South Africa moves to Level 2 of lockdown
– 9 December 2020: South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize announces the country has entered its second wave, largely as a result of end-of-year matric rage parties, considered ‘super spreader’ events
– 14 December 2020: Lockdown measures tightened, including the closure of certain beaches and decreasing number of people at gatherings
– 18 December 2020: It’s announced that the new ‘South African variant’, 501Y.V2, has been discovered and is driving the second wave of infections
– 27 December 2020: Number of confirmed Covid-19 cases reaches 1 million
– 28 December 2020: South Africa set to enter adjusted Level 3 of lockdown for two weeks, with a ban on alcohol, closure of beaches and public parks, and extension of curfew hours
– 3 January 2021: The South African government announces the three-phase Covid-19 vaccine roll-out strategy aimed at vaccinating 67% of the population
– 1 February 2021: South Africa enters adjusted Level 3. One million Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses arrive in South Africa. However, use of the AstraZeneca vaccine is temporarily suspended until its effectiveness against the new variant has been determined
– 15 February 2021: South African schools re-open after a two-week delay
– 16 February 2021: South Africa receives 80 000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
– 21 February 2021: 10 000 healthcare workers had been vaccinated
– 1 March 2021: South Africa enters Level 1 of lockdown as second wave of the virus ends
– 2 March 2021: 70 537 vaccines administered. More than 9 million tests conducted. More than 1.5 million confirmed cases and 49 993 deaths
To keep updated on Covid-19 news and information, visit www.sacoronavirus.co.za
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