Prepare for a different Christmas, says Mkhize

Prepare for a different Christmas, says Mkhize

National Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says South Africans must start gearing themselves for a “different Christmas”.  

Zweli Mkhize
Image courtesy: GCIS

He held a live broadcast on social media on Sunday evening, saying government needs to send a very strong message that of washing hands, sanitizing, social distancing, wearing masks, adding “it's more important now than before.”

 

However, Mkhize says an increase in new Covid-19 cases does not mean that the country will go into stricter lockdown,but rather that safety protocols need to be followed more stringently now than since the outbreak of the virus in South Africa in March.

 

“The day-to-day festivities have to be done differently and that is important for us to start gearing ourselves for a slightly different Christmas. I am not talking about lockdown, I am talking about just changing the way we do it so that we don’t go and enjoy and then end up with an infection seeing that there are a number of breakouts that are showing an increase.”


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Furthermore, Mkhize says the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro area in the Eastern Cape is the biggest case of concern.

 

‘’In the areas where we are seeing an increase of cluster outbreaks for an example in the Eastern Cape there were instances where students and parties had a huge impact. The seasonal workers between the Eastern Cape and Western Cape we think are related to the seasonal workers that got through those boundaries. Those cluster outbreaks do not necessarily mean that the whole country will go into a whole resurgence immediately,’’ added Mkhize.

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