1. South Africa’s unique trajectory- South Africa has taken a unique path unlike that of other countries.
2. Testing is increasing- As the rate of infection plateaued, the number of tests conducted increased.
3. The lockdown has been effective- The rate of infection declined because the lockdown reduced the opportunities for the virus to spread in communities.
4. Government concerns- Aggravating factors for community transmissions are high- density hubs where there is a high potential for the spread of the virus.
5. What’s next? – It highly unlikely that the virus will simply disappear. What’s more likely is that once the lockdown ends, there will be an exponential growth in infections. Despite the success in stemming the spread of COVID-19 in communities.
6. The good news – Government interventions have delayed a potential disaster.
7. Vital week ahead – Everyone needs to follow the lockdown rules while the government monitors community transmission.
8. National surveillance day – Once a month South Africa will have a national surveillance day during which a 5% sample will be collected from a small number of schools, mine and companies and tests could be increased if the government sees fit to do so.
9. Concerns – Access to healthcare is limited to poorer communities. Millions of patients who have underlying health conditions, like HIV/AIDS, are also a concern because they are vulnerable to infection.
Medical staff will be prepared for the exponential curve. This means getting ready makeshift ICUs, ventilators and personal protective equipment – a challenge dealt with worldwide.
