Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Pretoria, South Africa – South Africa is now recording an average of 500 COVID-19 cases per hour, with an average of 12 00 COVID-19 cases per day.

To date, the country has recorded 276 242 COVID-19 cases making it the 10th highest in the world. It has also recorded 4 079 COVID-19 related fatalities.

Yesterday the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, read out the country’s COVID-19 update.

“We are now witnessing an exponential increase in the number of COVID-19 cases which has prompted the National Corona Command Council (NCCC) to make some adjustments.

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The national state of disaster has been further extended to the 15th of August 2020.

We have also noted that our trauma and ICU sections are now being overburdened by alcohol related cases as such the sale and distribution of alcohol has been suspended with immediate effect.

Furthermore, there will now be a curfew which will start on Monday from 9pm to 4am,” said Ramaphosa.

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as well as the chairperson of the NCCC said the decisions taken by the NCCC to curb the spread of the virus were spot on.

“The decisions taken by the NCCC are on point as they are helping in curbing the spread of the virus.

People should not act as if this virus is only supposed to be solved by the government, each and every individual has a responsibility that they should take in mitigating the spread of the virus.

Wearing of masks is now mandatory when one is in public places, let us all take the necessary precautions in avoiding this virus,” said the Minister.

Some of the country’s scientists have predicted that South Africa will reach its peak by the end of this month with between 40 000 and 50 000 COVID-19 related fatalities expected by the end of the year.