coronavirus outbreak
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Rufaro Samanga
Mar. 13, 2020 07:14AM EST
Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images.

South Africans are calling on Ramaphosa to issue a travel ban amid coronavirus outbreak.

South Africans Call on Government to Issue Travel Ban to Contain Coronavirus Outbreak

President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, says it is "too early" to issue a travel ban with regards to the COVID-19 outbreak.

South Africans are calling on their government and President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue a travel ban to prevent the further importing of the coronavirus by travellers from hard-hit countries as well as South Africans returning from those affected countries.

President Ramaphosa has however stated that it is still "too early" to issue a travel ban and instead advised South Africans to remain on "high alert" and take the necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa currently stands at 16 and not 17 as was initially reported, after a patient who was thought to have the coronavirus recently tested negative. Only one of those cases has been the result of local transmission. The rest of the cases have been the direct result of a group of 7 South Africans who travelled to Italy and upon returning to the country, all tested positive for the coronavirus.

While the group has since been quarantined, a number of those who had been in contact with the group, have subsequently contributed to overall figure.

African countries including Uganda and Lesotho have already implemented travel restrictions. While Lesotho has banned international travel altogether, Uganda has suspended flights from high-risk countries including the US, UK, China, France, Italy and several others. However, it is unlikely that South Africa will follow suit.

Having recently entered a technical recession, and with the negative effects of the outbreak already affecting tourism, President Ramaphosa may be attempting to prevent further economic distress. Many feel however, that the move may exacerbate the growing public health crisis in a country where millions are already affected by tuberculosis and HIV and therefore vulnerable to COVID-19.

Admittedly, the majority of the cases in each affected African country has been a result of international travel.

Take a look at some of the reactions from South Africans on social media below:







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Music
Image: Nabsolute Media

Reekado Banks Recalls The Carnage of The #EndSARS Protests In Single 'Ozumba Mbadiwe'

The Nigerian singer pays his respects to those lost during last year's #EndSARS protests.

Nigerian singer and songwriter Reekado Banks is back with a track that is as socially important as it is a banger. It seems fitting for the singer's first solo release of the year to be a tribute to his fellow countrypeople fighting for a country that they all wish to live in. The 27-year-old Afrobeats crooner has returned with endearing track 'Ozumba Mbadiwe', honoring the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests that saw the Nigerian government authorize an onslaught of attacks on Nigerian citizens for their anti-government demonstrations.

The protests took the world by storm, additionally because the Nigerian government insists that none of the police brutality happened. In an attempt to gaslight the globe, Nigerian officials have come out to hoards to deny any and all accusations of unlawfully killing peaceful protesters. Banks mentions the absurd denials in the track, singing "October 20, 2020 something happened with the government, they think say we forget," in the second verse. Reekado's reflective lyrics blend smoothly and are supported by the upbeat, effortless Afrobeat rhythm.

In another reflective shoutout to his home, 'Ozumba Mbadiwe' is named after a popular expressway on Lagos Island that leads to the infamous Lekki Toll Gate where protesters were shot at, traumatized, and murdered. Although packed with conscious references, the P.Priime produced track is a perfect amalgamation of the talents that Reekado Banks has to offer; a wispy opening verse, a hook to kill, and an ethereal aura to mark this as a song as a hit. On "Ozumba Mbadiwe," all the elements align for Reekado's signature unsinkable sound to take flight.

Check out Reekado Bank's lyric video for his single 'Ozumba Mbadiwe'

Reekado Banks - Ozumba Mbadiwe (Lyric Video) www.youtube.com

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