“I have accordingly directed the South African National Defence Force be deployed to support the South African Police Service in ensuring that the measures we are announcing are implemented,” Ramaphosa announced at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 

“This nationwide lockdown will be accompanied by a public health management programme, which will significantly increase screening, testing, contact tracing and medical management. 

"Community health teams will focus on expanding screening and testing where people live, focusing first on high density and high-risk areas,” the president said.

To ensure that hospitals are not overwhelmed, Ramaphosa said a system would be implemented for “centralised patient management” for severe cases and “decentralised primary care” for mild cases.

“Emergency water supplies – using water storage tanks, water tankers, boreholes and communal standpipes – are being provided to informal settlements and rural areas,” Ramaphosa announced. 

Earlier on Monday, the Health Department announced that South Africa had 402 cases of Covid-19, a rapid increase from the 274 cases reported on Sunday.

African News Agency