The COVID-19 pandemic | e.tv
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The COVID-19 pandemic

A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China was first reported on 31 December 2019. After a rapid spread of the virus, the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic spread to South Africa, with the first confirmed case announced on 5 March. Within a matter of days, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation after a cabinet meeting and declared COVID-19 a National State of Disaster on 15 March. As a consequence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to enforce a nation-wide lockdown for 21 days.

No pharmaceutical products have yet been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19. However, a number of medicines have been suggested as potential investigational therapies, many of which are now being or will soon be studied in clinical trials.

As of 29 March 2020, South Africa now has 1,280 coronavirus cases and has recorded 2 deaths.

Source: WHO and eNCA.

President Cyril Ramaphosa calls on the nation to stand together and flatten the curve.