Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The problems with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have now been resolved. As a result of these problems, 2 million doses that had already been produced are unusable.   The Aspen plant in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape is now able to go ahead and produce new doses. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The pace of vaccinations has steadily picked up, and we are now vaccinating around 80,000 people a day at over 570 sites in the public and private sector.   This number will grow rapidly in the weeks to come, as we aim to protect as many vulnerable people as possible. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

As part of Phase Two, a further 1.5 million health workers and people over the age of 60 have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.   This brings the total number of people who have received a vaccine dose to almost 2 million. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Until now, our mass vaccination programme has therefore had to rely on the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses.   Nevertheless, 480,000 health workers have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to date as part of Phase One of the programme. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

However, the supply of Johnson & Johnson vaccines was held up by an investigation into contamination of ingredients at a supplier factory in Baltimore in the United States. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

After the AstraZeneca setback, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine appeared to be the best option for our country as it protects against the variant, because it requires only a single dose and is easier to store and transport. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

We have also been adversely affected by shortages in the global supply of vaccines, which has hampered vaccination programmes across Africa and in many other low- and middle-income countries. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Our first setback was that after the arrival of our first batch of vaccines, our scientists discovered that the AstraZeneca vaccine that we had procured from the Serum Institute of India did not provide sufficient protection against the variant that’s predominant in South Africa. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

We are all aware that our vaccination programme has experienced several delays. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

We each have a responsibility to take the necessary action to protect ourselves and others.   It is up to each one of us to limit the risk to ourselves and others. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

This will now be a hybrid event, with a significantly reduced number of people physically in attendance, and a virtual address by the President. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The move to Alert Level 3 will affect several aspects of our lives and may require changes to activities that we had planned. This includes, for example, arrangements for the #YouthDay commemoration, which was scheduled to be held in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

It is important to remember that it is a criminal offence if the number of people on these premises exceeds the maximum number of customers or employees allowed for there to be proper social distancing. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The owners and managers of public buildings, centres, shops, restaurants, taxis and buses all have a responsibility to ensure that people on their premises or in their vehicles wear masks. They must ensure that the appropriate social distancing measures are in place & adhered to. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

It remains mandatory for every person to wear a face mask that always covers their nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces.   It is a criminal offence not to do so. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The measures we are putting in place now are appropriate to the level of risk and necessary to save lives.   In addition, several important measures remain in place. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

At the same time, if we act too late, or if our response is too weak, we risk losing control of the virus.   We have therefore closely monitored the data and heeded the advice of our experts and scientists. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Throughout our response to the pandemic, we have sought to take measures that are appropriate and proportionate to the threat of infection.   If we act too soon, or impose measures that are too severe, the economy will suffer. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Alcohol sales for on-site consumption will be permitted as per licence conditions up to 9pm. Alcohol consumption in all public spaces, such as beaches and parks, is strictly prohibited. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are not allowed. - The sale of alcohol from retail outlets for off-site consumption will only be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday. This excludes public holidays. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places. - Attendance at funerals and cremations may not exceed 50 people and all social distancing and health protocols must be observed. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

All gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

This means that: - The hours of curfew will start at 10pm and end at 4am. - Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 9pm to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

In view of the rising infections, we have therefore decided to move the country to Alert #Level3. This will take effect later this evening once the regulations have been gazetted. — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The proportion of COVID tests that are positive – the so-called positivity rate – is continuing to rise in Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Of these, Gauteng has been the worst hit. https://t.co/L2hWSfT0Ra — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Four provinces – Gauteng, Free State, North West and Northern Cape – are officially in a third wave, while others are approaching that point. https://t.co/L2hWSfT0Ra — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

The average number of people who die from COVID-19 each day has increased by 48 per cent from 535 two weeks ago to 791 in the past seven days. With the exception of Northern Cape, all provinces are experiencing rising infections. https://t.co/L2hWSfT0Ra — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

Over the last seven days, we have recorded an average of 7,500 daily infections. Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 over the last 14 days are 59 per cent higher than the preceding 14 days. https://t.co/L2hWSfT0Ra — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

But although we have reason to hope, we still have a mountain to climb. A third wave of infections is upon us. We have to contain this new wave. Since I last spoke to you just over two weeks ago, the average number of daily new infections has doubled https://t.co/L2hWSfT0Ra — PolitiTweet.org

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 @CyrilRamaphosa

We know that as difficult as the last 15 months have been, we have started to recover and rebuild. Although it has encountered several setbacks, our mass vaccination programme is gaining momentum and we are finally on the path to controlling the disease. https://t.co/L2hWSfT0Ra — PolitiTweet.org