The president’s 10 tips for a safer festive season

If we each play our part and follow a few basic precautions, we can all have a joyful festive season and most importantly, enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

With these words, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday evening announced additional precautionary measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 over the festive season.

Read more: ‘Healthy New Year is in your hands’ as president introduces festive season precautions

Between 3 and 13 December, the number of recorded cases in South Africa nearly doubled, from 4 400 new cases to nearly 8 000. “There can no longer be any doubt that the country has entered a second wave of coronavirus infections,” the president remarked. Citizens have to realise that the more they travel, the greater the potential for the spread of the virus, he said.

In this regard, he gave the following guidelines:

• Wear a mask when you are using public transport.
• Make sure the windows are open at all times when using public transport.
• Reduce the number of people that you spend time with if you are travelling to visit family and friends in other parts of the country.
• It is safer to socialise with your immediate family than with large gatherings that could cause the virus to spread.
• Keep your celebrations small and avoid crowds.
• If you are spending time with other people, do so outside or at least make sure that you are in a well-ventilated space.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth whenever in public, or in the company of people you don’t live with.
• Wash your hands regularly with sanitiser, or soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
• Limit your travel as much as possible. If you have to travel, make sure that you travel safely.
• If you are going to visit friends and family, limit your number of contacts for at least one week before you travel.

Ramaphosa reminded citizens of the most common symptoms experienced.

“The common symptoms are fever, a dry cough, and tiredness. Less common, but moderate symptoms include aches and pains, a sore throat, and a loss of taste or smell. If you experience these symptoms, you should isolate yourself from others.”

If you experience severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or loss of speech or movement, you should seek immediate medical attention, he said. He remarked that the measures that were taken early on during the pandemic and the disciplined actions of every citizen, have already saved many lives.

“Despite the restrictions on many of our regular activities, this season can be both festive and safe. If we do not do things differently this festive season, we will greet the new year not with joy, but with sorrow. Unless we do things differently, this will be the last Christmas for many, many South Africans.  We urge South Africans to heed to call to stay safe by following the basic precautions,” he concluded.