Mooted stricter lockdown in Gauteng points to ‘inadequate preparation’ - SAMA
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says the possibility of stricter lockdowns in Covid-19 hotspots is proof of inadequate preparation during level 5.
The provincial government in Gauteng has mooted the possibility of imposing stricter lockdowns in areas hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This comes as the country’s economic hub is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
SAMA chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee says the Medical Advisory Committee has not been party to any discussions around the implementation of stricter lockdowns.
She believes it would be impractical.
"How is it even possible to put the lockdown on hotspots areas when people travel to different parts of the province? It is going to be difficult for the average person to go back into stricter lockdown."
She says there is still a lack of information on the virus.
"The average person at home doesn't even know what to do when infected with the virus. We need it in clear, plain language understood by communities. There should be information hub in communities to change the behaviour of people.
"What we are seeing out in the streets are people walking around with no social distancing, no masks. People need to start to taking responsibility and they can only do that with information."
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Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in his daily report that the country's death toll had surged to 3 199. Gauteng recorded the most deaths at 71, in the Western Cape there were 41 deaths as well as 29 from the Eastern Cape, 10 from the Free State and two in the Northern Cape.