Coronavirus update in South Africa – the calm before the storm

avatar

Read "Coronavirus update in South Africa – the calm before the storm" on TravelFeed.io for the best experience


Greetings fellow travelers and welcome to this special #covid-19 edition of The Shape of The Cape with your host Julescape. Whether at home or on the road traveling, we are all subject to the current coronavirus pandemic. The entire planet is under attack from one of the most virulent global virus breakouts – perhaps in our lifetimes so far. The knock on effect, even if we don’t catch the virus, appears to be devastating to the global economy.

Beachfront backpackers in Cape Town where I visited last week

One of the worst victims is the travel industry, with a shut down or travel ban in place for some countries. Some nations have shut their borders, but some remain open to travelers. Here in sunny South Africa we have some protocols in place for this pandemic, as the president appeared on local television three days ago to address the nation about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ17uoiJuMg

For example, as South Africa enters the over 100 club of known patients with the virus (on par with Taiwan) there is a ban on travelers coming from the high risk countries now in place here from today. I presume that means Italy, South Korea and of course China. Schools have prematurely all been shut down, a week before the holiday, which will extend through to mid April, longer than usual.

There is no quarantine yet, so we’re moving around freely, but gatherings of more than 100 have been prohibited. I wonder what that implies, because you may find 100 people in a shopping mall or supermarket too? I’m concerned even to go to the stores, as no one is wearing a mask anywhere that I have seen in the country so far.

I was in Cape Town three days ago on my travels, and there are no masked faces. Here back on the Garden Route, about 600km to the east of Cape Town, I see no masks at all. People here seem complacent, suspicious of the pandemic narrative, and basically less concerned, saying things like “masks won’t help you so don’t bother”.

In the photos here you can see the backpacker's I visited, a prime location at one of the beaches, which I would recommend...at a better time in history. It coincidentally happened to be a Corona beer establishment, so was plastered all over with the name, most ironically.

Front gate of the backpacker’s I visited, seen in the first photo above

In other words there is a lot of uncertainty, denial, confusion and mixed messages. I presume it depends on the information individuals are hearing. You may want to visit sunny South Africa now as it is still warm and pleasant at the end of summer, but remember that our health facilities are very third world and poorly. You will catch more disease in the public hospital than anywhere else.

Also we’re a poor country overall, with the mass of people living in shacks extremely close to each other, with little possibility for self-quarantine and a high chance of contagion due to poor hygiene. As much as I love to promote South Africa and particularly the Garden Route on the south Cape coast of Africa, now might not be the best time to visit. In fact now is not the time to travel anywhere in my opinion.

As winter approaches the south now, we may be in for a more challenging time too. The virus may be less virulent in summer but as winter brings the colder weather, it could increase the chance of spreading. I wish I could say it’s all fine, but I can’t. Although I am healthy and I haven’t seen anyone with the virus, or any sign of it, still the rumor and concern is rampant.

I heard a local man on the radio today who had the virus, contracted due to international travel for work recently. He was actually quite fine and well, but told of how the symptoms of dry cough, slight fever and sore body came and went during the course of a day, which lasted some days. He had been overseas for his company, and on returning with the virus, they told him to stay home from work. So if you’re healthy, you will get it and recover easily. But because it is so contagious, you could transmit it to an elderly relative or friend and they could die from the pulmonary complications due to the virus.

Travelers are most at risk, along with the elderly. Airplanes and air conditioned trains are a risky place, as well as airports, since the virus lasts so long on surfaces and thus spreads so easily. I would recommend staying where you are as a traveler, or staying home for a month or two, and then re-evaluate. Some patients recovered only for the symptoms to return days later, so we are doing the entire world a favor by staying home and not risking the chance of contracting the virus or being a super spreader with no visible symptoms.

If you want to know more, or wish to tell your own personal story from your country, then please fell free to read and add to this post here:(https://steempeak.com/hive-184437/@invisusmundi/coronavirus-situation-in-your-country). We all need to be informed and to hear from others on the ground, so that we can get a clearer picture.


View this post on TravelFeed for the best experience.



0
0
0.000
4 comments
avatar

He said, 'Stop doing wrong things and turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven is almost here.'(Matthew 3:2)

Bro. Eli Challenges Atheism Belief, There is No God

Watch the Video below to know the Answer...
(Sorry for sending this comment. We are not looking for our self profit, our intentions is to preach the words of God in any means possible.)


Comment what you understand of our Youtube Video to receive our full votes. We have 30,000 #SteemPower. It's our little way to Thank you, our beloved friend.
Check our Discord Chat
Join our Official Community: https://steemit.com/created/hive-182074

0
0
0.000
avatar

Congratulations, Your Post Has Been Added To The Steemit Worldmap!
Author link: http://steemitworldmap.com?author=julianhorack
Post link: http://steemitworldmap.com?post=coronavirus-update-in-south-africa-the-calm-before-the-storm


Want to have your post on the map too?

  • Go to Steemitworldmap
  • Click the code slider at the bottom
  • Click on the map where your post should be (zoom in if needed)
  • Copy and paste the generated code in your post
  • Congrats, your post is now on the map!
0
0
0.000
avatar

Congratulations @julianhorack! You received the biggest smile and some love from TravelFeed! Keep up the amazing blog. 😍 Your post was also chosen as top pick of the day and is now featured on the TravelFeed.io front page.

Thanks for using TravelFeed!
@elsaenroute (TravelFeed team)

PS: You can now search for your travels on-the-go with our Android App. Download it on Google Play

0
0
0.000
avatar

Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple!
Your profile map: https://pinmapple.com?author=julianhorack
This post on Pinmapple: https://pinmapple.com?post=coronavirus-update-in-south-africa-the-calm-before-the-storm


Want to have your post on the map too?

  • Go to Pinmapple
  • Click the get code button
  • Click on the map where your post should be (zoom in if needed)
  • Copy and paste the generated code in your post
  • Congrats, your post is now on the map!

0
0
0.000