EFF statement on coronavirus outbreak
5 March 2020
The EFF has noted the decision to evacuate 184 South Africans from Wuhan City, China where the Corona virus was first detected. The safety of South Africans across the world must be a priority of all of our embassies, and all efforts must be made to identify any citizens who are in China in particular.
We have further noted the reporting of the first Corona Virus case in South Africa, in the rovince of Kwazulu — Natal. We call for calm from all citizens but more especially we call on all media houses to report responsibly around the matter and be careful not to create panic and hysteria in the country.
The Corona virus poses a threat to all nations of the world and all efforts to maintain the outbreak must be led by health professionals who specialise in infectious diseases. It is therefore concerning that in South Africa the matter Seems to be handled by politicians. The Minister of Health and related departments do have a critical role to play in containing the outbreak in the country, evacuating South Africans frorn affected nations and easing the anxieties of South Africans, however these departments do not have the competency to lead efforts against a disease of this nature.
Healthcare and healthcare messaging must never be politicised as it has the possibility to have important interventions and awareness compromised for the interests of politicians and political parties. It should be the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICO) which should be the face of the response to this epidemic. It is them who should be explaining exactly what the virus is, how it spreads and coordinating a wide public healthcare campaign.