We are providing the latest updates on the Covid-19 situation in South African focusing on the events and developments that have an impact on you and your business.
We are providing the latest updates on the Covid-19 situation in South African focusing on the events and developments that have an impact on you and your business.
Covid-19 “Mass” Screening and Testing in Johannesburg
The City of Johannesburg has announced “mass” screening and testing for Covid-19 at George Lea Park to take place on Friday 22 May 2020. The testing venue is Sandton Sports Club, 11 Holt Street, Parkmore.
Testing is free of charge and will start at 8am. The testing team will test as many as people as possible by the end of the day.
Everyone will first be screened which will determine whether a test is necessary. The testing method will be PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) swab tests.
The targeted group for this mass screening and testing includes those with flu-like symptoms, people over 60 years old, and those with co-morbid chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma, hypertension, HIV, TB.)
Car and Driver’s License Renewal:
This week it was announced that all drivers licenses, learners licenses, license discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates and PDP’s that expired during lockdown (26 March – 31 May 2020) will be deemed valid with a 90 extension from 1 June 2020.
Schools to Re-Open in Phased Approach:
Minister Angie Motshekga has announced that the National Command Council and cabinet have approved the reopening of schools as of 1 June, starting with Gr 7 and Gr 12.
She noted that small schools and special schools will be approached differently and that details would be provided in the course of the month. The revised school calendar will be gazetted “soon” and will detail opening and closing dates and holidays.
In terms of Early Childhood Development, this being considered earlier than anticipated. Minister Motshekga is in talks with Minister of Social Development.
The Minister noted that: “If as parents you are anxious that is understandable. You can keep your child at home, but you have to register to home school them. If you decide not to have them come back, you have to apply for them to get a space next year.”
A late announcement in the week stated that online applications for the 2021 academic year for Gr1 and Gr 8 is scheduled to commence on Thursday, 25 June and will close on Saturday, 25 July 2020.
Whole of Gauteng To Move to Level 3 In June – Premier Makhura
Gauteng Premier David Makhura says the entire province will move to Level 3 of lockdown at the beginning of June. “We can’t go to Level 3 in a disjoined way, we can’t have one metro in Level 4, another in Level 3 and another at Level 2,” he said on Tuesday.
Makhura said his government was holding discussions with different sectors to prepare for less stringent measures. He also called on shopping malls and law enforcement to assist in making sure the province’s residents complied with lockdown regulations, as well as standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He said there would be a greater focus on townships during the start of Level 3. “In the suburbs we now have more recoveries and fewer active cases, with newer confirmed cases in our townships.”
Gauteng, which is one of the most affected provinces, has managed to drop from 50% of all cases reported to only 15%, with a reported 10% active cases of the total national figure.
Makhura said national figures showed that the province was leading in testing for Covid-19. The premier said that Gauteng has also had the highest rates of recovery, but that modelling was showing that Covid-19 was still far from reaching its peak in the province.
Covid-19 Statistics – South Africa
(as at the morning of 22 May 2020)
Tests Conducted: 525 433
Positive Cases Identified: 19 137
Recoveries: 8950
Deaths: 369
A Message from XtraSpace CEO, Colleen Mansour:
I would like to thank all the clients who returned to XtraSpace over the past 2 weeks and complied with our Covid-19 rules. As we have mentioned before, we are all in the same storm and this means that we need to rely on one another to get through this.
This includes wearing your mask, washing your hands, and maintaining social distancing not just for your own benefit but for the benefit of all South Africans and to aid in the movement towards lowered lockdown levels.
I remind all our clients that the XtraSpace team is ready to help you. Our team has kept up a positive attitude throughout this crisis and during XtraSpace’s reopening from 11th May.
I trust that has instilled a sense of calm and inspiration among our clients. We will keep providing updates on a regular basis and we look forward to welcoming back those clients who will once again be operational when we reach Level 3.
COVID-19 National Information & Help Contacts
Covid-19 Hotline: 0800 029 999
Covid-19 Whatsapp: 060 012 3456
Covid-19 Website: https://sacoronavirus.co.za