Members of Parliament in the National Assembly will hold a debate on the coronavirus, Covid-19, today and South Africa’s readiness to deal with it.
The debate will provide an opportunity for public representatives, on behalf of South Africans, to express views on the pandemic and to interact with government ministers
directly on this urgent matter of national public importance.
The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of Covid-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January.
The SA government and institutes, such as the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, have issued daily updates and thus far, no confirmed Covid-19 cases have been reported so far in the country.
The debate, starting at 2pm, will be broadcast live on Parliament TV (DStv Channel 408), as well as Parliament’s website and YouTube channel (@ParliamentofRSA).
South African Tourism (SAT) said yesterday Africa’s Travel Indaba 2020, taking place from 12 to 14 May in Durban, will go ahead as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Health Department said all ports would be monitored closely for anyone suspected to have been in contact with carriers of the Coronavirus.
Outgoing provincial head of health, Beth Engelbrecht, said dummy runs were made to establish the readiness of all parties involved in handling such cases. A provincial operation centre has also been established.
The global death toll from the Covid-19 epidemic surpassed 3 000 on Tuesday after dozens more died at its epicentre in China and cases soared around the world with six fatalities on American soil.
The virus has now infected more than 90 000 people and spread to over 60 countries after first emerging in China.