Before we begin we’d like to take a moment to explain what is happening here.

“Why is a technology news website covering COVID-19 news,” is a question we’re bound to receive so we’re going to address it right here.

Regulations published by Stella Ndabeni-Abraham states that “all internet sites operating within .zaDNA top level domain name must have a landing page with a visible link to www.sacoronavirus.co.za”.

As we fall under that regulation, we are required to link to the Department of Health’s website but we’re taking that a step further.

Every morning and every afternoon we will publish an update regarding COVID-19 in South Africa. For the purpose of these updates we will refer solely to the following sources of information:

• National Institute for Communicable Diseases
• Department of Health
• The World Health Organisation
• South African Government

We understand that folks are doing amazing things with data-viz and there are comments from experts that can help, but our goal with these updates is to provide you, our reader, with accurate information from trusted sources. If the source is not reliable, it will not be linked here.

We will also be placing a banner on our home page which you can click at any time to be directed to www.sacoronavirus.co.za.

Our latest update follows on below:

It is now a week to go until South Africa’s extended national lockdown comes to end at midnight on 30th April. Following that date, however, things will not resume as they have before, with President Cyril Ramaphosa holding a public address explaining such earlier this evening.

To that end there will be five different stages of lockdown, akin to the different stages we have for loadshedding. The different stages work from in ascending intensity from one to five, with the most severe matching the state of lockdown we currently find ourselves in.

Ramaphosa has explained that from 1st May, South Africa will move to stage four, with several limitations still being in place, such as our borders being closed for travel, with the only exception being the repatriation of citizens.

Consumers will also be able to purchase since banned products like cigarettes, but no word on alcohol. Large gatherings still remain restricted, with pubs, shebeens and restaurants closed during stage four.

Different industries will also receive guidance in terms of allowing employees back in to the workplace, with Ramaphosa still stressing that those employees who are able to work from home, to do so.

The levels of lockdown are expected to be outlined in greater detail in coming days, with next week likely laying all the necessary information bare.

Looking at the number of positive cases in the country, the total has risen to 3 953, and fatalities have also increased to 75, with 10 new deaths reported today.

As such it illustrates that while the country has been commended for its reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, more needs to be done, and phased approach post-lockdown is likely the best route.

In order to stay up to date with the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa and abroad, we advise the following materials and platforms:

• Dr Zweli Mkhize on Twitter
• COVID-19 Connect on WhatsApp – add 0600 123 456 as a contact and say “Hi”.
• World Health Organisation
• SA Coronavirus website
• SA Government
• SA Presidency

[Image – Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash]