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The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 2 415, as of Tuesday, 14 March.

Releasing the update of cases, the Health Department said the total number of tests conducted to date is 87 022.

Gauteng has 909 cases, Western Cape 643, KwaZulu-Natal 489, Eastern Cape 174, Free State 98, Limpopo 24, Mpumalanga 22, North West 22 and Northern Cape has 16.

There are 18 unallocated cases.

Government, through National Treasury, is exploring all funding avenues to finance all COVID-19 related programmes and measures aimed at addressing the pandemic.

“The funding avenues will not be limited locally, but will include exploring all global partners and international finance institutions,” Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni said.

Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday, the Minister said government will revise the fiscal framework to take into account the effect of COVID-19 on the fiscus.

He said there are a number of elements to the fiscal response, including putting forward clear estimates of the additional health care costs that will be needed.

Government will repriotise unnecessary expenditure towards these health care costs.

The impact of slowdown on National Treasury’s projections for revenue as well as a  clear timetable or plan to stabilise debt over the current forecast period  are among the other elements of government’s fiscal response.

The Minister said to revise our fiscal framework, which takes into account the effect of COVID-19 on the fiscus, must be supported by an economic recovery plan (structural reforms) and a set of reforms within the fiscal system such as passing the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS), consolidation of public entities and closure of South African Airways.

“Together with my colleagues in the economic cluster, we have put together a few proposals on how we can further grow the economy. These will be announced shortly. Amongst the measures we are looking [at] is expanded support for Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME) lending through the banking system, similar to other countries,” the Minister said.

Recession

The Minister said COVID-19 will certainly further deepen the South African downturn woes.

“Our internal scenario planning has mapped out the economic impact of different lockdown scenarios, together with the consequent different paths for the fiscal deficit, for government borrowing and for the fiscal response. At this stage, our central scenario is for a deep recession in 2020, followed by a rapid upswing in economic growth,” he said.

The National Treasury is in conversation with the teams at multilateral bodies, domestic and local economists, and the South African Reserve Bank to understand how the global economy will adjust.

“We are also monitoring domestic and global high frequency data to ensure that we understand as well as we can the ongoing evolution of the economy,” he said.

Supporting growth

He said the 2020 Budget was already mildly expansionary and supportive of growth.

“In particular, the fiscal consolidation path was designed to strengthen our fiscal health. Fiscal health is a necessary, but not sufficient condition, for sustained growth. Several priority areas were growing at above inflation rates including capital spending.

“Nevertheless, given the current crisis, a higher deficit may be accommodated if it is temporary, and if reprioritised spending is directed towards crisis (health) response, and direct fiscal support to the most vulnerable,” he said.

Mboweni said the other parts of the package involves the drawing down of existing surpluses such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or increasing the contingent liability of government guarantees.

“But it is absolutely critical, now more than ever, to focus on raising long-run growth. Beyond the COVID-10 crisis, a major risk facing the economy and the fiscus is if long-run economic growth returns to the pre-crisis averages of between 1- 2%. Higher levels of economic growth need to become a non-negotiable objective,” he said.

The South African Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points.

“This takes the repo rate to 4.25% per annum, with effect from 15 April 2020. The decision was unanimous,” Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, said in statement on Tuesday.

He said the implied path of policy rates over the forecast period, generated by the Quarterly Projection Model, indicates five repo rate cuts of 25 basis points, extending into the first quarter of 2021.

“Monetary policy can ease financial conditions and improve the resilience of households and firms to the economic implications of COVID-19.

“In addition to continued easing of interest rates, the Bank has taken steps to ensure adequate liquidity in money and government bond markets, and to ease capital requirements to free capital for onlending by financial institutions,” Kganyago said.

He said each of these steps makes more capital available to households and firms.

“Monetary policy, however, cannot on its own improve the potential growth rate of the economy or reduce fiscal risks. These should be addressed by implementing prudent macroeconomic policies and structural reforms that lower costs generally, and increase investment opportunities, potential growth and job creation,” he said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that global growth will contract by about 2.9% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread globally and its impact is being felt through all economies.

“The COVID-19 outbreak will have a major health and social impact, and forecasting domestic economic activity presents unprecedented uncertainty.  With that in mind, the Bank expects GDP in 2020 to contract by 6.1%, compared to the -0.2% expected just three weeks ago.  GDP is expected to grow by 2.2% in 2021 and by 2.7% in 2022,” Kganyago said.

South Africa’s lockdown was recently extended by an additional 14 days, bringing the total lockdown period to 35 days.

“Both the supply and demand effects of this extension reduce growth and deepen it in the short-term, as businesses stay shut for longer and households with income spend less.

“This will likely also increase job losses, with further consequences for aggregate demand.  The impacts will be particularly severe for small businesses, and individuals with earnings in the informal sector,” Kganyago said.

He said current indications from the World health Organisation are that the pandemic is unlikely to end quickly, with shorter, less virulent waves hitting over time.

“The uncertainties of the crisis have led to extremely high volatility in financial asset prices, with sharp and deep market sell-offs followed by a partial recovery.  At this stage, the sustainability of that recovery remains uncertain, and global markets remain in risk-off mode.

“This has implications for emerging markets and South Africa in particular, as investor appetite for rand-denominated equities and bonds is expected to remain weak,” the Governor said.

The Department of Home Affairs has outlined temporary measures that have been put in place to address immigration matters during the lockdown period.

The temporary measures were introduced after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a National State of Disaster on 15 March and subsequently a national lockdown from 27 March, extended until the end of April 2020, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

These temporary measures will remain valid until 31 July 2020, unless extended officially by the department. They apply only to foreign nationals, who have been legally admitted into the country.

The visa concessions are contained in the Directions, which have been issued by the department in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002.

“Visa concessions listed below apply to those with visas that expired from 15 February 2020, unless a person has proof that he/she had already submitted an application for a visa extension prior to 15 February 2020 and the outcome is pending,” the department said.

Expiry of visas

Holders of temporary residence visas, which expired from mid-February 2020, who did not renew their visas before the lockdown, will not be declared illegal or prohibited persons.

“Any person whose visa expired before or during the lockdown will not be arrested or detained for holding an expired visa. Those who opt to return to their countries of origin or residence after the lockdown, instead of renewing their visas, will not be declared undesirable upon departure,” the department said.

During the lockdown, the department is not receiving or adjudicating applications for visas and for permanent residence permits.

“Foreign nationals, whose visas expired after 15 February 2020, may reapply for their respective visas or relevant visa exemption while in the Republic, immediately after the lockdown has been lifted. They will not be required to apply for authorisation to remain in the country (Good Cause/Form 20),” the department said.

Foreign nationals, whose visas expired after 15 February 2020, who had scheduled appointments on dates which fall within the lockdown period, should reschedule their appointments to an available date after the lockdown has been lifted.

Work, study and business

People whose visas expired during the lockdown and those who have submitted their applications before the lockdown but their applications are still pending will be allowed to work, study or conduct business after the lockdown while waiting for the outcome of their applications.

“Visas issued to nationals of high risk countries, who were outside the Republic on 15 March 2020, were revoked – as per the Directions issued by the department in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002. These visas remain revoked,” the department said.

During the lockdown, except for cases relating to expatriation initiated by another State, all foreign nationals, who are currently in South Africa, may not depart.

Holders of the Lesotho Special Permit have up to 15 June 2020 to submit their applications for the Lesotho Exemption Permit.

The Lesotho Special Permits, which expired on 31 December 2019, remain valid until 15 June 2020. No new applications will be taken.

“Any asylum seeker, whose visa expired from 16 March 2020 to the end of the lockdown period, will not be penalised or arrested, provided that they legalise their visa within 30 calendar days of the lockdown being lifted,” the department said.

South Africa has received medical supplies from China to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

At 7pm on Monday, 13 April, a Boeing 777 aircraft, which flew more than 24 hours from Guangzhou, China, arrived at OR Tambo International Airport with a consignment of medical supplies and equipment donated by China.

The cargo is currently going through accelerated clearance, with the assistance of the South African Revenue Service.

Items donated include 11 000 N95 masks, 50 000 surgical masks, 3 000 sets of protective suits, 500 portable infrared thermometers, 3 000 goggles, 11 000 pairs of surgical gloves and 11 000 pairs of medical shoe covers.

The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, together with his Deputy Dr Joe Phaahla and International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, received the consignment from Chargé d’affaires Li Nan at OR Tambo International Airport.

Welcoming the donation at a briefing on Tuesday, the Health Minister said the medical equipment will go a long way to protect healthcare workers at the frontline of the country’s fight against Coronavirus.

“We are sensitive about the protection of our professionals, so this donation is going to contribute quite significantly to ensuring that we are able to get our staff protected against infection.

“This for us indicates a contribution to a kind of commodity that is highly needed inside the department, particularly as we deal with the issue of COVID-19.

“We want to express our gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their continued support and assistance that they have given us,” said Mkhize.

Upon clearance, the Health Department will distribute the medical equipment across the country.

The donation comes as the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 2 415, as of Tuesday with 87 022 tests conducted to date.

“Truly, China has exhibited that it is only together that we can stop this virus,” said Pandor.

Another batch of medical supplies for donation is being assembled in Shanghai, China, for collection by chartered South African aircraft. This next batch of donations is set to arrive in South Africa during the course of this week.

China’s Ambassador to South Africa, Li, said the donation of medical supplies demonstrates brotherhood between the two countries.

“This batch of medical supplies arrived in South Africa just five days after President Xi Jinping’s telephone call with President Cyril Ramaphosa, which represents an important concrete step to implement the consensus reached by our two Heads of State.

“It fully demonstrates the comprehensive strategic partnership and the special brotherhood that exists between China and South Africa,” said Li.

The number of inmates testing positive for COVID-19 at East London Correctional facility has increased by 49 cases, says the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

“The number of inmates testing positive for COVID-19 at East London Correctional facility has increased by 49 cases. Overall figures will therefore reflect, 53 inmates and 25 officials (inclusive of St Albans and Head Office), thus placing DCS to a combined total of 78 cases,” said the department in a statement on Tuesday.

In addition, the department also announced that it has activated containment and treatment measures at its facilities.

“As the number of infected people increases in correctional services, the containment and treatment pillar of the Disaster Management Response Strategy of the department has been activated. This is looking at the rapid identification of laboratory-confirmed cases, the isolation of those who test positive and management of the pandemic within our centres,” said the Department on Tuesday.

Healthcare teams are on site, armed with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), which includes goggles, gloves, masks and gowns, rendering care services to distress cases and monitoring those likely to develop acute respiratory challenges.

Prevention measures

Working together with the Health Department and provinces, DCS has a list of hospitals and health care centres where inmates could be transferred in cases where they require admissions.

“Appropriate safe escorts will be employed in order to limit the risk for officials and hospitals receiving inmates in need of care.

“Disinfection of the environment at East London Correctional Centre is underway. This is to prevent contamination of surfaces and inanimate objects,” said the department.

In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, the DCS is now splitting out-of-cell time for the distribution of food.

“This will mean that units or wings are divided in order to avoid concentration of inmates and officials in open spaces. This measure does not abolish access to open air which is mandatory for inmates,” said the department.

Visits will remain restricted and the DCS has since issued a circular advising correctional centres to increase the limit on the amount that inmates are allowed to buy items for from centre tuckshops.

This will allow inmates to purchase items from the tuck shops, adhering to social distancing protocols.

“We have also ramped up toiletries that we provide to inmates so that offenders are not disadvantaged,” said the department.

Only two out of 243 centres have reported positive cases of the virus thus far.

“Therefore, it remains critical that prevention measures remain in force and be granulised in order to keep other centres COVID-19 free. Valuable lessons have been learned at East London and this will influence our disaster response plan moving forward.

“However, it must be acknowledged that, as the virus continues to spread in communities, correctional centres within the same localities will remain vulnerable. Officials attending gatherings and movements from their residences to places of work is receiving attention, in addition to screening,” said the DCS.

The department has also procured mobile quarantine sites that will assist with isolation cases, this is in addition to centres already identified and prepared for this purpose across all provinces.

The Lockdown Digital Classroom is a free and voluntary virtual classroom that encourages pupils to continue learning during the lockdown, the Basic Education Department clarified on Tuesday.

The initiative, which is the brainchild of Africa Teen Geeks – an organization that does work in the basic education sector, received criticism on social media with users expressing concern over the use of celebrities as opposed to qualified teachers.

“The initiative was created by a Non-Profit-Organization called Africa Teen Geeks (ATG) who approached the department with an idea for an intervention to support learners during the lockdown resulting from COVID-19,” said the department.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) further clarified that the Lockdown Digital Classroom is not a formal school, but rather a project.

“It is an out-school project that was put in place as a temporary activity to urge learners to continue learning at home. It is optional and participation is voluntary. No subscription is required. It is free,” it said.

According to the DBE, of the 56 teachers involved in the virtual classroom, 54 are qualified and registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE).

Two are student teachers.

The initiative is funded by the SASOL Foundation.

The project comprises two components that run concurrently. The first is the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Lockdown Digital School which supports learners with school work during the lockdown.

For STEM, a teaching qualification or training in teaching is required.

The second component is the Lockdown Book Reading Club that raises awareness about reading. For the reading club no qualification is required.

Support

Africa Teen Geeks approached the Department of Basic Education seeking support.

“There is no financial implication to the department but only advocacy support as the project is fully aligned with the work of the department especially during the COVID-19 lockdown. There was no tender involved,” said the DBE.

Through its website and social media handles, ATG advertised that it sought Stem teachers to apply and become part of the lockdown e-school.

ATG received over 9000 applications. A proper screening process was undertaken and 54 teachers were appointed to assist with the catch-up lessons.

Qualified teachers who were unemployed, were requested to apply to become part of the teaching pilot programme.

“There was no intention to undermine the teaching profession in any way. The 56 teachers involved in the actual learner support programme are qualified or in the process of obtaining their teaching qualification.”

On the use of celebrities for the reading club, the DBE said the practice has been in place since the Read to Lead campaign was launched in 2015.

“The practice of using familiar personalities to drive campaign is an age-old strategy used to promote worthy causes such as the reading revolution,” it said.

Welcoming the interest shown in the initiative, the Department and Africa Teen Geeks encouraged the public to continue to focus on literacy and numeracy campaigns.

Book clubs

The department invited the public to form book clubs or existing clubs to share their reading activities online or exchange their reading lists.

It also urged parents to continue to support their children at home while schools remain closed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“The Department has made available online resources that are user-friendly and appreciates the involvement of partners in minimising the impact of the COVID-19 on basic education. The department urges parents to continue supporting their children at home during the lockdown.”

More information about available resources can be found on www.education.gov.za .

With the declaration that the novel Coronavirus is 10 times deadlier than the 2009 swine flu, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on countries to slowly lift control measures.

“We know that COVID-19 spreads fast, and we know that it is deadly – 10 times deadlier than the 2009 flu pandemic,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The WHO DG made the declaration on Monday during a virtual briefing.

With some countries and communities under several weeks of social and economic restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, Ghebreyesus urged countries to be measured when phasing out restrictions.

“While COVID-19 accelerates very fast, it decelerates much more slowly. In other words, the way down is much slower than the way up.

“That means control measures must be lifted slowly, and with control. It cannot happen all at once,” he said.

Ghebreyesus stressed that control measures can only be lifted if the right public health measures are in place, including significant capacity for contact tracing.

While some countries are considering how to ease restrictions, others are considering whether to introduce them – especially many low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

“In countries with large poor populations, the stay-at-home orders and other restrictions used in some high-income countries may not be practical.

“Many poor people, migrants and refugees are already living in overcrowded conditions with few resources and little access to health care,” said Ghebreyesus.

With these concerns facing countries, WHO called on each government to assess its situation, while protecting all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable.

To support countries in making these decisions, WHO will today publish its updated strategic advice.

The new strategy summarises the lessons learned and charts the way forward.

The strategy includes six criteria for countries as they consider lifting restrictions.

“First, that transmission is controlled. Second, that health system capacities are in place to detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact.

“Third, that outbreak risks are minimised in special settings like health facilities and nursing homes. Fourth, that preventive measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go,” said Ghebreyesus

Fifth, that importation risks can be managed and sixth, that communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the “new norm”.

“Every country should be implementing a comprehensive set of measures to slow down transmission and save lives, with the aim of reaching a steady state of low-level or no transmission,” said Ghebreyesus.

WHO urged countries to strike a balance between measures that address the mortality caused by COVID-19, and by other diseases due to overwhelmed health systems, as well as the socio-economic impacts.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today join an online Good Friday liturgy, led by the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, His Grace Thabo Makgoba.

The liturgy is a public form of worship in which the church community gathers in reflection, praise, thanksgiving and participation in Holy Communion.

Today’s service, at 12h00, will be broadcast live on SABC television and radio, with a feed provided by the public broadcaster to other channels.

Like many religious communities around the country, clergy in the Anglican Archdiocese of Cape Town have been using various digital platforms to enable parishioners to share fellowship while remaining at home.

President Ramaphosa will join the Good Friday liturgy from his home in Johannesburg.

He will, at the invitation of the Archbishop, deliver remarks at the conclusion of the assembly.

The 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 has been extended by a further two weeks until the end of April.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the extension in a televised address on Thursday evening, as the number of confirmed cases climbed to 1 934 cases.

“If we end the lockdown too soon or too abruptly, we risk a massive and uncontrollable resurgence of the disease. We risk reversing the gains we have made over the last few weeks, and rendering meaningless the great sacrifices that have been made.

“After careful consideration of the available evidence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to extend the nation-wide lockdown by a further two weeks beyond the initial 21 days,” said the President.

The President’s address follows a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council on Wednesday and consultations the President held with premiers and political parties and various social partners during the course of today.

With the severe restrictions on movement and many daily freedoms, the President thanked South Africans for their adherence to regulations and their commitment to saving lives.

“For your cooperation, for your commitment and above all for your patience, I wish to thank you personally. I wish to thank you for reaffirming to each other and to the world that we South Africans are a people who come together and unite at moments of great crisis,” he said.

The extension comes as the number of confirmed cases worldwide surged to 1.5 million – with over 90 000 people losing their lives to the disease.

In a plea to South Africans, the President called on citizens to endure the lockdown a bit longer.

While it is too early to make a definitive analysis of the progression of the disease in South Africa, the President said there is sufficient evidence to show that the lockdown is working.

Since the lockdown came into effect, the rate at which new cases have been identified here in South Africa has slowed significantly.

In the two weeks before the lockdown, the average daily increase in new cases was around 42%. Since the start of the lockdown, the average daily increase has been around 4%.

Government ramps up mass screening and testing

Since the 21-day lockdown, government has refined and intensified its public health strategy to manage the Coronavirus.

In the last week, government developed its screening and testing methodology in various parts of the country.

Over the next two weeks, government will roll out its community screening and testing programme across all provinces, focusing in particular, on highly vulnerable communities.

Those who test positive and cannot self-isolate at home will be isolated at special facilities that have been identified and are now being equipped.

To ensure that its strategies are effectively coordinated and to ensure they are informed by comprehensive, real-time data, government has established the COVID-19 Information Centre at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

This world-class centre will keep track of all screening, testing, isolation and hospitalisation throughout the country.

”It is already identifying infection hotspots. It is following the spread and the severity of the disease, and enabling us to move our focus and resources where they are most needed,” said the President.

Easter Weekend

With the extension announced on the eve of the Easter Weekend, the President called on South Africans to embrace the spirit of Easter which is a message of hope, recovery and of rebirth.

“As we walk this road together, as we struggle to defeat this pandemic, we remain strong and united and resolved.

“Much is being asked of you, far more than should ever be asked. But we know that this is a matter of survival, and we dare not fail. We shall recover. We shall overcome,” said the President.