Stopping the Spread of the Coronavirus
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MAY 2020 STOPPING THE SPREAD WE ARE ONE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IS HERE TO STAY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ANNOUNCED A 35-day nationaL, HARD, LEVEL 5 Lockdown, Stories WHICH started ON Thursday, 26 MARCH 2020 at MIDNIGHT AND ENDED ON Thursday, VOICES OF HOPE 30 APRIL at MIDNIGHT. Since then, the president has announced a level approach to easing the lockdown restrictions, which comprises of 5 different levels to enable increases in economic activity. The levels, which denote the level of action needed to stop the spread of the virus, are as follows: P4 • Level 5 – Drastic measures are required. • Level 4 – Some activity can be allowed, subject to extreme requirements. BMC and community come together • Level 3 – The easing of some restrictions on work and social activities. for COVID-19 relief. • Level 2 – Further easing of restrictions, but still maintaining social distancing. • Level 1 – Most normal activity can resume, with caution and health guidelines TEAM OF THE MONTH followed at all times. At Level 4 restrictions, mines are allowed to operate in batches of up to 50% employment with open-cast mining scaling up to full employment. P6 Introducing the team of the month: HSE and Sustainability team. RETURNING TO WORK TIPS Call the COVID-19 HOTLINE on 080 002 9999 or WhatsApp P10 the VZI COVID-19 REPORTING HOTLINE on 082 900 0130. High alert to prevent the coronavirus For more information, visit www.gov.za/Coronavirus spread. CARING/OMGEE Tydens die inperkingstydperk tot op 20 April 2020 het BMC BMC STREK HELPENDE HAND die volgende donasies gemaak: UIT TYDENS DIE NASIONALE • Meer as 600 versorgingspakkette (kospakkies) aan die Khai-Magemeenskappe (Pella, Pofadder, Witbank en Onseepkans). INPERKINGSTYDPERK • 50-liter hand-ontsmettingsmiddels aan die Khai-Ma munisipaliteite Na die aankondiging van die 21 dae inperkingstydperk, en die Namakwa-distrik. • Groot versorgingspakkette en higiëniese produkte vir volwassenes het baie mense die voorreg gehad om hulself voor te by die 4 ouetehuise en die 2 sentrums vir gestremdhede berei vir dit. Mense het winkels ingestorm om voorraad in die munisipale gebiede Khai-Ma en Nama Khoi. aan te koop vir die 21 dae, daar is wel baie huisgesinne wat • Water vir die Khai-Ma SAPD tydens padblokkades. nie die voordeel gehad het om winkels in te vaar nie. BMC het - • Higiëne-noodsaaklikhede soos maskers, veiligheidsbrille in vennootskap met OK Grocer (Aggeneys) in samewerking met en hand-ontsmettingsmiddels aan distriksowerhede. • Versorgingspakkette aan die Departement van die Khai-Ma Munisipaliteit, Departement van Sosiale Ontwikkeling Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling. en die plaaslike SAPD - kospakkies uitgedeel vir kwesbare families • Versorgingspakkette vir die Pella-, Pofadder- en in die Khai-Ma en Nama Khoi munisipale areas. Onseepkans-sendings. Na verlenging van die inperkingstydperk het BMC voortgegaan om te verseker dat die kwesbaarste persone in die Khai-Ma Spesiale dank aan OK Grocer (Aggeneys) en Tsebo ATS en Nama Khoi munisipale areas noodsaaklike goedere het. vir hul bydrae tot die versorgingspakkette. 9. There are existing medications which can stop me getting COVID-19. DON’T Unfortunately, this is not true – at the moment there is no vaccine to prevent or cure the virus. FALL FOR 10. Chinese people are the ones spreading coronavirus. This is not true. The virus was brought to South Africa and Namibia MYTHS by tourists either visiting or returning from Europe and America. 11. ARVs cure coronavirus. This is not true. At the moment there is no cure for the virus, although many experts are working to develop one. COVID-19 was created in another country and is being It is hot here, so it will be hard for the virus to spread. 12. 1. spread on purpose. This is not true. The virus cannot be killed by the normal range Absolutely not true. It is one of hundreds of viruses which of temperatures – whether hot or cold. It will spread wherever can infect humans. people take it. 2. Taking a very hot bath can stop me from getting COVID-19. 13. Coughing or sneezing means I have COVID-19. This is not true! And taking a very hot bath puts you at risk No, that is not the case. You could have allergies, or a cold, of serious burns. or the flu. However, if you have the main symptoms like a sudden dry cough, a fever or difficulty breathing, you should contact 3. Mosquito bites spread COVID-19. your doctor or the national COVID-19 hotline. There is no proof that insect bites can spread the virus. Right now, it is spread by and between humans. 14. Wearing a face mask will protect me from COVID-19. The WHO and governments are now calling for all people to wear 4. If someone is tested, that means they are sick face masks if they leave their homes. Your face mask will help and are a risk to others. protect the people around you in case you are already sick. This is not true. Testing is critical in helping the government find Other people wearing masks will protect you in the same way. out how far COVID-19 has spread and to ensure that anyone It is important not to buy medical masks, as they are needed who needs medical help can get it. by doctors and nurses. Rather use a fabric face mask, which you can make yourself, or can get from community sewing groups. 5. If I don’t show symptoms of COVID-19 then I do not have it. No. All evidence at the moment shows that you can have the virus 15. Eating garlic can help prevent COVID-19. without feeling sick and that you are at very high risk of spreading There is no evidence that eating garlic has protected people it to others. This is why it is so important to wash your hands from COVID-19. regularly, keep a safe distance from other people, and practise good cough and sneeze hygiene. If you are worried you are sick, 6. Spraying myself with alcohol or chlorine will kill COVID-19. please contact the following numbers: This is not true – you will only put yourself at risk of getting ill from the alcohol or chlorine. South Africa – 0800 029 999 Namibia – 0800 100 100 7. Pneumonia and flu vaccines will stop me from getting COVID-19. This is not true. However, getting the flu vaccine is important because it may help reduce the number of other health problems the health system must deal with. For reliable news you can visit: 8. COVID-19 only affects older people. South Africa – www.sacoronavirus.co.za/www.nicd.ac.za This is not true. Anyone can contract COVID-19, and get very sick OR send “Hi” to 060 012 3456 from it. However, older people and people with pre-existing Namibia – http://www.mhss.gov.na/corona medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) are more at risk of serious medical complications. PAGE 2 GROUP/GROEP IN THE MEDIA PROFILING PIETER van GREUNEN: Get to know more about the life and career of the General Manager at Gamsberg, Pieter van Greunen, by reading an article profiling him at http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/pieter-van-greunen-2020-02-14. OUR ENVIRONMENT/ ONS OMGEWING Parabuthus granulatus ROUGH THICKTAIL SCORPION ROOF DIKKEL SKERPIOEN APPEARANCE: The Rough Thicktail scorpion can reach VOORKOMS: Die Roof Dikkel Skerpioen kan a length of 18cm with the tail extended. Individuals can ʼn lengte van tot 18cm bereik wanneer dit sy stert be black in colour, dark brown or yellow, sometimes with verleng. Individue kan swart, donkerbruin of geel lighter legs and a darker back-segment. This is the most wees, soms met ligter bene en ʼn donker rugsegment. venomous scorpion in Southern Africa and accounts Dit is die giftigste skerpioen in Suidelike Afrika for a few fatalities every year. However, effective en is die oorsaak van ʼn paar sterftes per jaar. anti-venom is available. Effektiewe teengifstog is egter beskikbaar. HABITAT: It occupies the drier Western Bushveld areas HABITAT: Dit bewoon die droër Westelike Bosveldareas of the country in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, van die Wes-Kaap, Noord-Kaap, Noordwes en Limpopo. North-West, and Limpopo. Inligtingsbron: Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Biodiversiteitsinstituut Source: South African National Biodiversity Institute PAGE 3 PROSPERITY/voorspoed VOICES OF HOPE, REVIVAL OF DREAMS, AND PERSONAL ACTION THE Department OF HEALTH, WITH THE assistance OF BMC, successfuLLY compLETED SCREENING FOR THE coronavirus (COVID-19) IN THE KHAI-MA LOCAL municipaLITY AND other AREAS IN THE NAMAQua DISTRICT. NO POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES WERE recorded FROM MORE THAN 80 000 PEOPLE WHO WERE SCREENED. During the same period, BMC implemented remote working methodologies to train, mentor and monitor Broad-Based Livelihood (BBL) participants and improve their productive efforts, disseminate important factual COVID-19 information from government, and encourage households to implement safety measures. BBL participants have been encouraged and coached during house-to-house ‘switch-on’ visits, with social distancing and strict hygiene protocols. Pella livestock secretary, Drienie Fredericks, is leading by example by establishing her food garden, first at home and then at her livestock pens. More than 30 Khai-Ma livestock farmers have now also requested vegetable tunnels. Food parcels were also distributed to vulnerable households, in collaboration with the Namaqua District Disaster Management Services and the Department of Social Development. More than 600 parcels were distributed in Khai-Ma in partnership with OK Grocer – Aggeneys and UMSIZI. Jim is making an oasis in the desert: “I saved money from my vegetable sales and bought more seed to expand my production – all during lockdown.” PAGE 4 PROSPERITY/voorspoed VZI SUPPORTS FARMERS NORTHERN CAPE PREMIER, DR ZAMANI SauL, DECLARED THE province A DISASTER AREA GIVEN THE impact OF THE PERSISTENT DROUGHT.