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| Cuba Doctors |
Over 200 doctors from Cuba arrived in South Africa Johannesburg to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doctors, community health and infectious disease specialists, arrived on Monday and were welcomed by military and health authorities.
South African Government requested assistance from the Cuban government, which is sending more than 1,000 doctors to 22 countries, including Togo, Cap Verde and Angola in Africa.
South Africa has reported the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Africa, with at least 4,546 cases and 87 deaths.
Cuba's government supported the African National Congress in its fight against South Africa's apartheid system of racist minority rule. Now the ANC is South Africa's ruling party and has good relations with Cuba.
South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela was known to be close to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The two countries cooperate in the health sector, with hundreds of South African medical students studying through scholarships in Cuba.
In the economic hub of Gauteng province, which includes South Africa's largest city Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, mass screening and testing is scheduled to take place throughout the week.
The screening and testing will also concentrate on the Western Cape province, which includes the city of Cape Town and which has largest number of COVID-19 cases.
South Africa has conducted nearly 170,000 tests. The country has 28,000 experienced community health workers who track contacts of people who test positive to help contain the spread of the disease.
Nationwide Coronavirus Lockdown In South Africa
South Africans on Friday began the first day of a three-week nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus cases, now topping 900 in South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa urged troops on Thursday to be a "force of kindness,” saying people are terrified of the virus and the soldiers should not do anything to make their situation worse.
Ramaphosa delivered a similar message to police, stressing that they understand that people are fearful of the virus and its potential impact, including losing their livelihoods.
South Africa’s lockdown is considered one of the strictest, with bans on alcohol sales and dog-walking, among other things. People are also not allowed to jog in public for the next three weeks.
South Africa's borders are already closed for transporting people, but cargos of essential supplies can still come into the country.
The lockdown could last beyond 21 days if the situation with the virus does not improve.
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