South Africa’s Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize and the Parliament’s presiding officers have urged South Africans to take the coronavirus seriously and adhere to the COVID-19 related safety protocols as numbers in the country continue to rise.
This comes after the death of ANC MP Martha Mmola who succumbed to COVID-19 related illness.
According to Parliament’s spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, “The presiding officers have also extended their heartfelt condolences to the family of Mmola as well as the bereaved families of South Africans who have passed away due to the pandemic and have continued to urge South Africans to adhere to all safety protocols and continue to stay home, leave when necessary, wash hands and wear masks at all times.”
On Saturday night, the Health Ministry reported 13,285 new COVID-19 cases raising the total number of cases in the country to 350,879.
The ministry also confirmed 144 fatalities bring the death toll to 4,948.
The government has done all it could to contain the spread but it cannot win the battle the virus alone, Dr.Mkhize said.
“We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging. We see poor or no social distancing in communities. Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly and there is laxity setting in around the frequent hand-washing,” he said.
Mkhize warns that this will have a direct influence in the rise of COVID-19 infections in the next two weeks.
He appealed to citizens to be each other’s keeper and call out those who refuse to adhere to the set regulations aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.
