AFTER a reluctant start, most households across Kouga have settled in to the nationwide 21-day lockdown.
Kouga, furthermore, recorded its first positive Covid-19 case on Sunday. “While the patient is not from Kouga, she is currently in St Francis Bay,” Kouga Executive Mayor Horatio Hendricks said.
“The Department of Health has ensured that she is properly qua-rantined and has been tracing those she had contact with.”
He said that, with social grants being paid out this week, shopping areas were still quite busy but that all areas were expected to quieten down considerably from Friday.
“We would like to urge shops to make it as easy as possible for customers to maintain social distancing while they stock up on supplies for the days ahead.
“Shoppers are also reminded to keep practising good hygiene. Don’t touch anything unnecessarily and avoid touching your face if you haven’t just washed your hands.”
He said law enforcement authorities had been working around the clock to ensure residents and businesses understood and adhered to the lockdown restrictions.
“Several taverns and shops were closed and fined for operating illegally. Some residents, including two surfers and a jogger, were also fined for disregarding the lockdown rules.”
He emphasised that while the lockdown was difficult for everyone, it was necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “The principle is simple: The virus does not move. People move it. We stop moving. The virus stops moving and dies.”
According to South Africa’s official Covid-19 information site, people can still seek medical care du-ring the lockdown. “Emergency services including doctors, clinics, hospitals and pharmacies continue to operate as usual,” the site assures.
If you are concerned that you have symptoms of Covid-19, inclu-ding, a sore throat, dry cough, shortness of breath and high fever, and may have been in contact with someone who has the virus, the site recommends calling your doctor or clinic about getting tested. Alternatively, phone the national hotline at 0800 029 999.
Should you be advised that you are at high risk and need to be tested, avoid getting closer than 1,5m from anyone at home with you, cough into your elbow or a tissue and make sure they don’t touch any surfaces you have touched.
