'We have no vaccine. We have no cure': Read Zweli Mhize's plea to SA to take Covid-19 seriously

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has reiterated his plea for all South Africans to take the lockdown as well as the measures implemented by government to fight the spread of Covid-19 seriously. Read the full message:

As government, we have mobilized every resource, every faculty and wherewithal at our disposal to effect the necessary interventions. But government cannot manage this unilaterally. 

Every single South African now needs to focus on adhering to recommendations pertaining to non-pharmaceutical interventions.

We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging. 

We see poor or no social distancing in communities. Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly and there is laxity setting in around

frequent hand-washing.

This will directly influence the rise in numbers in the next two weeks. 

We must all appreciate that there is a direct causal link between the surge of cases and our ability, or inability, to adhere to these very basic principles.

We do not have a vaccine. We do not have a cure. 

Our ability to break the cycle of infection depends on our willingness to remain focused and disciplined and take non-pharmaceutical interventions seriously.

We can beat this pandemic together. 

We have already proved this during the lockdown. 

It remains in each and every citizen’s hands to admonish family members, colleagues, friends. who refuse to adhere to measures that protect lives by limiting the spread of this virus.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize