Coronavirus Lockdown: Catch 22 For Ramaphosa As Infection Rates Rise Faster Than Expected in Epicentres

Nyakallo Tefu

Concerns are mounting about the rise of coronavirus infections in epicentres like the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and East London.

Of the nine provinces in South Africa, the Western Cape, Gauteng, KZN and Eastern Cape remain the hardest hit by COVID-19.

This comes a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa said some parts of the country with higher infection rates of COVID-19 would remain under Level 4 Lockdown and that changes to that level of restrictions would be announced in the coming days after consultations with various stakeholders.

Ramaphosa that the country’s hardest-hit cities are set to keep lockdown restrictions in place as the rest of the country emerges from Level 4 lockdown.

In March, the National Coronavirus Command Council recommended that metros which are regard as epicentres should remain under lockdown, adding that these would pose a huge challenge to government as they are the main drivers