South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces a 21 day lockdown as the nation seeks to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic from (26 Mar to 16 April)
In his speech the President Ramaphosa pleads
“Now is the time to act in the interests of all … be courageous, patient. Show solidarity & compassion to one another”
The president said all South Africans will have to stay at home from Thursday midnight, apart from emergency services, health workers, traffic officers, security services, banking services, soldiers, laboratory services, and businesses involved in supplying and producing food and basic services, like food and medication.
The government will be deploying the army to ensure the enforcement government’s new plan, as enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
A full list of essential services and places to remain open will be made public soon, Ramaphosa said. “Individuals are not allowed to leave their homes except to buy food or seek medical care or get their social grant,” Ramaphosa said.
He said temporary shelters are being identified to house homeless people, people in need of quarantine and those who are unable to self-isolate in their own homes.