Mohammed Arai | 16 March 2020 | Image: Google
Salaamedia host of The Alternative View, Inayet Wadee spoke to Mia Malan, editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa Health Journalism who analysed President Ramaphosa’s Sunday night nation address on the Covid-19 pandemic.
[COMING UP] @InayetH in discussion with @miamalan, Editor-in-chief of @bhekisisa_MG – Health Journalism in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tune in!#CoronaVirusSA #CoronavirusInSA #covid19SA #CoronavirusOutbreak#TheAlternativeView
— salaamedia (@salaamedia) March 16, 2020
“If we have to compare ourselves to the UK where the Prime Minister has not announced such measures, President Ramaphosa ought to be praised for announcing last night’s measures and in time,” was Malan’s opening statement.
It is a matter of concern that internal transmission of the virus has started in South Africa because we have seen in other countries that when internal transmission starts, the virus starts spreading rapidly, noted Malan.
Malan highlighted that great uncertainty lies for those that have purchased bus and plane tickets ahead of the Easter weekend as President Ramaphosa has prohibited South Africans from undertaking non-essential travel. She asked in this regard: “Would there be special rules for people to get refunds?”
In terms of religious events, all Easter events in the Christian world will be cancelled in order to abide by the President’s announcement that gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited, noted Malan.
Malan emphasised that the government is looking at fiscal packages to reimburse those that are unable to attend work, hence unable to get paid. More information on this, however, will only be provided later this month.
When asked to elaborate on essential and non-essential travels, Malan noted that this position is still unclear, however, traveling to work is considered as essential travel as many South African have jobs that cannot be performed at home.
