Ramaphosa warns against ‘unnecessary’ travel during holiday season
Holidaymakers have been asked to rethink their plans for the upcoming festive season.
This comes amid the surge in Covid-19 infections in the country.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that increased traffic between provinces could trigger a second wave of infections.
Ramaphosa called on South Africans to drawn up the festive itinerary with caution.
“Many of you are preparing to travel to reunite with friends and relatives. Travel carries great risks, which we can reduce by avoiding unnecessary travel,” he said.
“Many people are travelling between provinces and within each province in higher numbers, especially with the festive season approaching.”
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Additional restrictions will be implemented, taking effect at midnight. The new measures were announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who held a family meeting on Thursday where he raised concerns about the resurgence of cases, particularly in the Eastern Cape and parts of the Western Cape.
Some popular holiday destinations are already facing trouble.
The Garden Route District in the Western Cape is among three areas of concern for government.
The Nelson Mandela Bay and the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape are also under close watch.
“Now, as the number of infections begins to rise again, we cannot sacrifice the gains that we made,” Ramaphosa added.
“We cannot return to the darker days of June and July, when transmission of the virus was widespread and the lives of our family and friends were at risk.”
The KwaZulu-Natal local government has also called off major events in the province in support of efforts to avoid a resurgence of Covid-19 in the province.
“There is now clear evidence of a resurgence of infections in parts of our own country, which, if not confronted decisively and directly, could lead to great suffering and death,” Ramaphosa warned.
“This pandemic has already taken a heavy toll on our country.”
