South Africa extends the time for national disaster status, the president calls for preventing a return of the epidemic

　　(Fighting new crown pneumonia) South Africa extends the time for national disaster status, the president calls for preventing a return of the epidemic

　　China News Agency, Johannesburg, November 11 (Reporter Wang Xi) South African President Ramaphosa announced in a national television speech on the evening of the 11th that as the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still raging, the South African government has decided to extend the current national disaster status to 12. On the 15th.

　　On March 15 this year, South Africa officially entered a state of national disaster due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic and has continued to this day.

This time to extend the duration of the national disaster state again, which means that the national disaster state in South Africa will last at least 9 months.

　　Ramaphosa said that the current average daily increase of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in South Africa is less than 2,000, and the number of hospitalizations has declined for 14 consecutive weeks, and the results of the phased fight against the epidemic have been shown.

However, the new crown pneumonia virus still exists, and the main goal of South Africa is to prevent the second peak of the epidemic.

In particular, the recent surge in confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa caused the shortage of hospital beds, which must arouse the vigilance of the South African society.

　　In response to the new peak of the epidemic that may come, Ramaphosa promised that the South African government will strengthen cooperation with provinces in the future, expand screening in high-risk areas, actively promote the localized production of new crown pneumonia vaccines, and extend the distribution of new crowns. The pneumonia relief fund will last until January next year.

At the same time, in order to accelerate the recovery of South Africa's economy, the South African government will also fully open international flights, and the "prohibition" on weekends will also be cancelled.

　　In addition, Ramaphosa urged the people of South Africa not to relax as the Christmas holiday approaches.

"If everyone can fulfill their responsibilities, then we may be able to avoid a recurrence of the epidemic." He emphasized that South Africans must still abide by the regulations of wearing masks, avoiding large-scale gatherings, and maintaining social distance.

　　As of press time, South Africa has 740,254 confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia and 19,951 deaths.

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