China News Service, October 13th, title: The war among nations: the southernmost point of Africa, the "Rainbow Country" is facing the storm
Author: Bian Lei
""Pata, Pata" is to South Africans what "Unforgettable Tonight" is to us." On social networking sites, Chinese netizens once described this South African classic old song like this.
Fifty years ago, the legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba, known as the "Mother of Africa", made this song popular all over the world; 50 years later, when the new crown epidemic broke out, it was adapted to the current situation. "Tower and Pata" once again conveyed tremendous strength and love to people from all over the world together with the epidemic prevention information.
On May 10, 2020, UNICEF released a video on social networking sites to show people from many parts of the world dancing to the new version of "Pata, Pata".
"Stay at home and wait for it to pass... We need to wash our hands... Do not touch our faces and keep a distance from each other." According to UNICEF statistics, this song has been approved in Zambia, the UK, the US, India, etc More than 100 radio stations around the world spread to every corner.
"It captures an indomitable human spirit." The BBC said when evaluating the original "Pata, Pata."
Today, under the epidemic, South Africa is also working with the same spirit and the whole people to make people survive the severe winter.
[Background of "Rainbow Country"]
In early March 2020, the new crown virus "tipped a hole" in South Africa.
At that time, a tour group of 10 people who had returned from skiing in Italy arrived in South Africa for a new crown test and found that at least 7 people were diagnosed.
This beginning sounded a safety alarm for South Africa.
As a bridgehead between African countries and other continents, South Africa has frequent exchanges with Europe, and high-income groups also like to go to Europe for vacation.
Therefore, after the "occupation" of Europe, the virus arrived in South Africa with a large number of tourists and quietly spread everywhere.
Data map: July 10, 2020, in a South African hospital, patients with new crowns are receiving treatment.
"In the 18 days I was admitted to the intensive care unit, six people died." said Muzi Maranbi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education of KwaZulu Natal Province, recalling the days when he was hospitalized with the new crown, he had lingering fears.
Ma Lanbi said that during the hospitalization, his name also changed, "become a code or a case."
When being transferred from the intensive care unit to the intensive care unit, in order to prevent infection of others, I was directly wrapped in a plastic bag with my own bed.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Minister of Police and the Minister of Transport, etc., have been sent to the "severely hit areas" to support the fight against the epidemic.
At the same time, including cabinet ministers, governors, deputy ministers, etc., successively "successfully".
Fortunately, Malambi was cured and discharged after 23 days in hospital, but more people lost their lives.
Bogopane Zulu, Deputy Minister of Social Development, who has been on the front line of the fight against the epidemic, died in late August.
"The country has lost a special gem," the eulogy read.
More than a month ago, Nuloiso Sandilai, the regent queen of the Xhosaxiaxiabai tribe, also died of the new crown.
President Ramaphosa said with sorrow, “When we are facing a serious public health emergency of the new crown virus, it is Queen Nuloiso who has actively mobilized and supported the nation’s efforts to fight the epidemic”.
Data map: On August 3, 2020, in El Dorado Park outside Johannesburg, South Africa, a health worker is sampling a woman for new coronavirus testing.
On the front line of the fight against the epidemic, Imran Kola also joined the fighting team as a resident intern.
In his opinion, those days were "crazy and chaotic."
In the face of patients, he often feels weak, "the most powerful medicine (on the contrary) is words to comfort the patient or prayer."
In the hospital where Cora was located, medical staff were severely affected by the new crown virus, and bad news came one after another: a professor became seriously ill after contracting the new crown, and colleagues and directors fell ill one by one.
The medical staff on duty are still actively fighting the epidemic.
Medical staff of all colors, beliefs, and ages often communicate in different languages.
Although from different places, "Everyone always has a deep friendship and common determination."
This seems to echo the scrolling slogan on the huge LED screen in the most prosperous area of Johannsburg: "We are a nation, and we must overcome the difficulties together at this moment."
On July 22, local time, in Johannesburg, South Africa, a clerk in a liquor store wears a face mask to sort the goods in the refrigerator.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Xi
[Don’t be afraid, South Africa! 】
"We hope that in the face of the epidemic, the people of South Africa will not panic." After the first confirmed case of the new crown, President Ramaphosa issued an emergency statement on March 5.
Immediately, the South African Ministry of Health immediately entered a "state of war"; on March 15, the government announced that South Africa had entered a state of national disaster; 8 days later, when the number of confirmed cases exceeded 100, Ramaphosa announced that it would implement a nationwide blockade.
"In dealing with the epidemic, take a cautious attitude and sufficient efficiency."
As a series of iron-fisted anti-epidemic measures were quickly rolled out, Ramaphosa fulfilled his promise.
"No matter how terrible the epidemic is, it will not make tomorrow unbeautiful." After the "blockade order" was issued, most people expressed their support for the government's epidemic prevention measures.
During the boring "foot-free" period, people also found new ways of communication.
In many neighborhoods across the country, people played the big horn "Vuvuzula", which was famous in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and beat pots and pans to pay tribute to the white-clothed "retrograde" in the distance.
Data map: South African President Ramaphosa.
Photo by China News Agency reporter GCIS
"South Africa's early response to the (coronavirus) pandemic has been widely praised. (Measures) include a strict lockdown order and a community screening program for the detection of a virus outbreak." The British "Guardian" pointed out.
Unfortunately, due to obstructed testing and tracking measures, South Africa entered the peak of the epidemic after July, with more than 10,000 newly confirmed cases in a single day.
At the moment of preventing the epidemic, Ramaphosa pointed out that the epidemic has caused "another disaster"-discrimination.
The hostile attitude of the people toward the infected people prevents them from telling the truth about their illness, increasing the risk of the continued spread of the new coronavirus.
"This is a virus that affects all of us. There should be no discrimination around the infected." Ramaphosa pointed out at the online memorial service of former President Mandela's youngest daughter Xin Qi in mid-July.
Prior to this, Xin Qi's family confirmed that she had contracted the new crown during her lifetime.
Ramaphosa said, "At such a moment, what we need most in life is to express love and care."
He pointed out that this confirmation by the Mandela family is a major support for the fight against the epidemic and will encourage the public to accept those infected, rather than "fear and hostility."
【Examination of the "epidemic" foreign university】
"In our eyes, we only see the epidemic storm at the moment, but in fact, there is another storm about hunger that is imminent." In mid-July, South African Minister of Social Development Zulu issued a warning.
The secondary crisis triggered by the epidemic is also a "big test" for South Africa.
Affected by the epidemic, there are a large number of hungry people caused by unemployment in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Mpumalanga provinces.
Data Map: Since June, the new crown epidemic in South Africa has been increasing rapidly.
The picture shows a social relief station in Johannesburg, where low-income people receive government relief food.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Xi
In Gauteng, a 68-year-old grandmother really felt fear after a long time after the diagnosis.
The two daughters stopped work one after another due to the epidemic, and 80% of the family income came from her pension.
"If I die, how will they live!" The old woman sighed.
In fact, even though South Africa resolutely chose the latter between the issues of "economy" and "life", it is still working hard to save the economy, such as launching economic and social relief programs, setting up a "South African Solidarity Fund" to collect donations, It even imposes emergency price controls on toilet paper.
In addition, South Africa also announced a plan to improve informal settlements to provide a solid foundation for economic recovery.
Once the plan was announced, it was generally welcomed.
Before that, the residents there could not even achieve basic epidemic prevention measures such as reducing gatherings and washing hands frequently.
"My neighbor is here," Masabeli's wife said, pointing to the wall. "If I get the new crown, he will also be infected, and everyone will be infected." Masabel and his wife live with 3 children. An informal settlement in the town of Alexandra, Joburg.
Every day, they share outdoor public toilets with a dozen neighbors.
Here, maintaining social distancing is almost impossible.
The picture shows a long line of people receiving relief food at a social relief station in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Xi
The same situation also appeared in the informal settlement of Port Elizabeth.
To make matters worse, only one tap is available for the 2000 shantytowns.
Residents often have to queue for hours before they can fill the water.
Outside of the epidemic, purchase orders for anti-epidemic supplies are suspected of corruption; in the process of distributing government funds and relief supplies, there are corruption, fraud, and mismanagement...The emergence of rumors has also attracted the attention of the South African people.
The news that the spokesperson of the Presidential Office Dico and the Health Director of Gauteng were involved in corruption allegations made the anti-corruption action in South Africa imminent.
"Corruption threatens people's lives more than viruses." Ramaphosa warned.
In early August, he appointed an investigation committee, and shortly after, demanded that all officials involved in the case resign.
At the end of August, the government also disclosed the expenditures during the implementation of the "blockade order" for an unprecedented rate and accepted social supervision.
"At the moment when South Africa enters a state of national disaster," Ramaphosa emphasized, "all corruption is extremely shameful, and the South African government will take severe sanctions against it."
Data map: On May 1, South Africa officially lowered the lockdown level for the new crown epidemic to level 4.
Pictured here is a bookstore in Johannesburg, where "fully armed" staff welcome the bookstore to reopen.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Xi
[The light of "Storm Point"]
"We have weathered the COVID-19 storm. Now, it is time for our country, people, and economy to return to a more normal state, (back) more like the (state) we lived in six months ago." September On the 16th, Ramaphosa said confidently.
As of October 12, local time, the South African Ministry of Health website showed that the total number of people infected with the new crown in the country was 693,359, but the cure rate continued to remain at a high level of 90%.
As the most important tourist city in South Africa, Cape Town has welcomed several batches of international tourists since South Africa reopened its border and lifted the ban on international travel on October 1.
What is even more exciting is that South Africa has already entered clinical trials of multiple new crown vaccines, and clinical trials of the British vaccine in South Africa have also resumed.
The government previously promised that once the vaccine is successfully developed, South Africa will achieve domestic production.
On July 13, 2020, during the epidemic, rainbows and a large number of bubbles appeared on the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, and people took pictures.
On September 16, when Ramaphosa announced that the level of "closing the city" would be lowered to the lowest level, he also encouraged all the people to accept the singing and dancing challenge of the South African song "Jerusalema".
"I urge everyone to accept this challenge on Heritage Day (September 24)." "There is nothing better than joining the global "Jerusalema" dance challenge in celebrating South African traditions." Ramafo Sa said.
Globally, the song "Jerusalema" has set off a wave of singing and dancing.
From medical staff to subway staff, from pastors to police, all posted videos of themselves singing and dancing under the hashtag of "#Jerusalem Challenge" on the social networking site.
"When accepting the'Jerusalema Dance Challenge', for a moment, I forgot the battle I just experienced to defeat the new crown virus." Nurse Serena Dokolo said that after she recovered from the new crown, she and other people Forty-eight medical staff who survived the infection accepted the singing and dancing challenge outside the hospital.
On September 24, 2020, South African Minister of Health Mukez led his colleagues to accept the "Jerusalema" dance challenge.
(The picture is taken from the video released on the official website of the South African Ministry of Health)
South African Minister of Health Mukez also actively responded to the president's call and released a 3-minute video of himself and his colleagues accepting the dance challenge.
In the dance, they creatively added movements such as holding posters with both hands and spraying disinfectant on their hands.
In the second video released by Mukez, "Jerusalema" reminds people that "even in the dark, there is light."
"Let us gain happiness through this (a challenge), inspire ourselves, unite us, and let us remember what we have experienced, what we are going through, or what we will still go through in the future, a very difficult period... this is this The meaning of the song to us-in a crisis, we can still find space to love, to sympathize, find space to enjoy, to encourage and comfort each other." Mukez pointed out.
When the "storm" of the epidemic subsided, the pain seemed to be healed briefly in singing.
When a song is played in this land that nourishes the rich soul, the tenacity and vitality of "Rainbow Country" also bloom in the melody.
(Finish)