President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday warned South Africans not to be alarmed by the rising number of coronavirus (Covid-19) infections, saying the country can expect to hit  50 000 cases and 1 000 deaths during the course of this week.

The current number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 48 285 with 998 deaths.

Since the outbreak, the country has recorded more than half of cases in the last two weeks alone.

“Like many South Africans, I too have been worried as I watch these figures keep rising. While these numbers are broadly in line with what the various models had projected, there is a big difference between looking at a graph on a piece of paper and seeing real people becoming infected, some getting ill and some dying,” said Ramaphosa.

He urged South Africans to be prepared for the rising infection rate and assured that the national lockdown was working to delay the spread of the virus and prepare health facilities.

He stressed the importance of individuals and families doing their part to prepare for the risk of rising infections by practising responsible shopping and worshipping, being able to identify symptoms, avoiding getting infected or infecting others and safe practises at school and work.

He further stressed the need for the protection of the elderly and people with underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, TB or HIV.

Meanwhile, government is preparing for the rising infections with the procurement of personal protection equipment (PPE), locally and internationally, as well as the improvement of hospital infrastructure and the setting up of temporary hospitals.

Tens of thousands of community health workers have also been deployed to detect cases and government is intensifying screening, testing, contact tracing and, where necessary, isolation.

“I should however say that social distancing in public places is still a major challenge for us. We need to focus our attention on ensuring that we adhere to social distancing practices because it is through close contact between people that the virus will be spread,” he warned.

Ramaphosa was also pleased by the preparations the Western Cape was making to contain infections and to ensure that there were enough beds, staff and medical supplies to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of people needing hospitalisation.

WESTERN CAPE INFECTIONS

The Western Cape province is now the epicentre of the virus in South Africa, with about two-thirds of all confirmed cases.

More bed capacity is needed, as well as additional funding and health personnel.

“I was impressed by the preparations the Western Cape is making to contain infections and to ensure that there are enough beds, staff and medical supplies to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of people needing hospitalisation. They are increasing the number of beds by setting up field hospitals, including at the Cape Town International Convention Centre,” he revealed.

The Eastern Cape, he added, was the province with the fastest-growing proportion of people infected and many of these infections were as a result of people travelling from the Western Cape.

Ramaphosa reiterated that under Level 3 of the national lockdown, travel between provinces were not permitted unless with the necessary permits.

“What this tells us is that no part of the country is an island and that all South Africans, no matter where they live, need to remain vigilant and prepared,” he said.