The COVID-19 pandemic - I think SA has stuffed this one up.

[Dave A]

I have had two regular clients who have died from COVID-19 infection in the last 2 days.
I have had numerous instances of regular clients who have been infected with COVID-19.
I have had numerous instances of regular clients who have experienced severe financial harm arising from the changes in business the pandemic has caused.
Locally I have seen the Durban North branch of FNB and the Durban North Post Office closed "due to unforseen circumstances", which it seems is becoming code for "we have had a COVID-19 infection incident and are closed until we have done what needs to be done to reopen."

This pandemic is serious.
And personally, I don't think South Africa has done a particularly good job of dealing with it.

Based on Worldometers:
South Africa ranks 25th in the order of most populous nations.
We are now in the top 5 when it comes to total reported infections.
We are number 4 when it comes to new infections.

What is most telling has been the relentless growth in new cases. From Mediahack:



OK. There has been some levelling off over the last 10 days. But check what has happened to testing volumes before we start reading too much into that just yet...

Just like with HIV, we are punching way above our weight.

And yet despite this all, I was standing in a queue to get into a shop this morning with the guy behind me right up my ass, with his face mask off and talking loudly into his cellphone - to the point I could feel flecks of spittle landing on my ear.

Fellow South Africans - WTF!!

What does it take to get serious about this pandemic in our country?

[adrianh]

What is the solution?

If they lock the country down much longer then the entire economy will fail.

[adrianh]

Read this:

Mob burns week-old Covid-19 treatment facility in Khayelitsha

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-07-20-mob-burns-week-old-covid-19-treatment-facility-in-khayelitsha/

[GCE]

I have to agree with you Dave that some people just don't seem to realize that social distancing is the only real solution,at the moment, to " flattening" the curve.
I have to admit that Bachelor life and social distancing don't work to well though and there have been close calls to avoiding Covid so far.

There have been some interesting theory's and and articles written around what works and what is practical. The best article that I have read and has worked for us as a workshop and personal movements was published on Daily Maverick.It has been my go to document .Covid Prevention .docx

I have also been following an open twitter account of Sugan Naidoo ( https://twitter.com/sugan2503 ) and he has done a brilliant job in analyzing the figures and providing comment on a daily basis since the beginning.

[Dave A]

What is the solution?

If they lock the country down much longer then the entire economy will fail.

Agreed. Lock down over the longer term just exchanges one problem for another.

The only viable option to reduce the impact of this pandemic over an extended term right now is to change our behaviour and habits.
All of us.
Individually and collectively.

The best article that I have read and has worked for us as a workshop and personal movements was published on Daily Maverick.It has been my go to document .[ATTACH]7936[/ATTACH]

Fantastic article

I've uploaded it as a pdf below for those who won't download docx documents...

Covid Prevention .pdf

[Blurock]

The majority ? of South Africans are irresponsible and displays a total disregard for any authority or compassion towards fellow citizens. This may be because of the ANC's policy of civilian disobedience in the 80's and 90's. This is how they grew up and this is how they will continue to behave, as evidenced by the crime rate and spiraling corruption that has devastated this country.
When last have you seen someone stop behind a white line at an intersection? Or is it because Mercs and BMW's (and now Bentleys) have such poor brakes? Even our provincial leader parks on a disabled parking zone when visiting the gym. When confronted, the 5 ! bodyguards gets nasty.

Nature has a way to take revenge. If you do not abide by the laws of Nature, you get washed away in a flood or wiped out by drought or a pandemic for which there is no cure or vaccination!

[adrianh]

The majority ? of South Africans are irresponsible and displays a total disregard for any authority or compassion towards fellow citizens. This may be because of the ANC's policy of civilian disobedience in the 80's and 90's. This is how they grew up and this is how they will continue to behave, as evidenced by the crime rate and spiraling corruption that has devastated this country.
When last have you seen someone stop behind a white line at an intersection? Or is it because Mercs and BMW's (and now Bentleys) have such poor brakes? Even our provincial leader parks on a disabled parking zone when visiting the gym. When confronted, the 5 ! bodyguards gets nasty.

Nature has a way to take revenge. If you do not abide by the laws of Nature, you get washed away in a flood or wiped out by drought or a pandemic for which there is no cure or vaccination!

....I am not pro the ANC but I am anti mindless bitching and moaning....as if the americans are a symbol of how a civilized society should act - come on....the americans have shown that when there is too much freedom people will CHOOSE to harm themselves purely to spite their own rule makers!

[Cindy Anthoy]

There is a video claim that the Covid-19 virus was created in Fort Detrick, a US military facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the summer of 2019.

[Dave A]

There is a video claim that the Covid-19 virus was created in Fort Detrick, a US military facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the summer of 2019.

There are people posting from Daqing, China claiming to be from Mali...

[Blurock]

There is a video claim that the Covid-19 virus was created in Fort Detrick, a US military facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the summer of 2019.

There is also a claim that a scientist has fled from China, confessing to have been involved in development of the virus. So who do we believe? Beware of fake news as there are so many people and organisations feeding their own agendas.

[Blurock]

With a reported increase in businesses closing and about 40% of South Africans now being unemployed, people are desperately looking at alternatives to make ends meet. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit may look at starting a business, but more people are taking to the streets to beg. Investors are also looking at alternative opportunities as markets crash and returns dwindle.

One of the biggest mistakes one can make is to take meagre household money to buy into an MLM at this stage. The promises are big and who does not dream of working for yourself and in your own time? MLM distributors are promising new investors big returns and an opportunity to work from home. Some even claim that their products can kill the Corona virus!

Truth is, its 99% easier to win the Lotto than to make money on MLM! The Consumer Awareness Institute in the USA (from where most MLM's emerge) has found that 99% of people lose money on MLM schemes. This research was posted on the website of the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has sent letters to 16 MLM's, warning them about the claims they are making. 30 cases have been filed against MLM's in the past, alleging that they were pyramid schemes. 28 of those have either settled or were found guilty in court.

There is no such thing as a free lunch!

[ians]

One thing I have noticed in the past weeks ... the ques outside home affairs ... the post office ... sassa ... have not doubled or tripled ... they are 8 deep spreading down the road ... around the building and just getting longer.

The general crime rate is up ... for example 2 batteires are being stolen every single morning in our area alone ... I see them arriving at around 3.45 - 4.30 am ... I have footage of them hitting the houses around my house ... a peice of steel pops open the locked unit ... they loosen the wheel and slid ethe gate slightly open ... smash the box off the top of the motor ... damage the wiring and off they go ... next morning the batteries are sold for R40 in Pinetown or R50 at the scrap yard ... it will cost you anything from R500 - R800 to replace the battery and a little extra to repair other damage if you they had to break open the lid thanks to your fitting a steel frame around it ... becoming so common ... add a a bit of load shedding and gate and alarm battery replacement is becoming big bussines ... I am thinking about getting a person on a scooter with a box full of 7 amp/hr batteries to spend the day just replacing batteries all day long ... maybe I should offer the thieves R60 a battery ... if you cant beat them join them

A new target is aircon piping (always copper) chop and chop and its gone ... people are getting smart and no longer installing copper piping on the outside of buildings ... so aircans are the next best thing.

[Blurock]

One thing I have noticed in the past weeks ... the ques outside home affairs ... the post office ... sassa ... have not doubled or tripled ... they are 8 deep spreading down the road ... around the building and just getting longer.

I am considering closing my post box because I cannot get near the post office due to the queues and congestion. The only problem is that I do not want my home address displayed on my mail for obvious reasons.

[adrianh]

I closed my post many years ago - it is a waste of money. I also don't like receiving speeding fines :-)

[ians]

I am considering closing my post box because I cannot get near the post office due to the queues and congestion. The only problem is that I do not want my home address displayed on my mail for obvious reasons.

I closed my PO box ... just couldnt justify the cost and the hassle to drive to the post office to collect post.

I do however agree with not using your home address displayed on my mail or any other platform.

A bussiness oportunity ... spar/checkers/ nanados or the like to offer a PO box service or address for small business or any bussiness for that matter ... as i move to the next phase of my journey ... this could be another oprotunity ... I am thinking about making use of a small storage facility ... offering a collection and delivery service to trademen ... save you having a vehicle on site exposed to the elements ... rather have a dedicated driver who runs from location to location picking up and dropping off "teams" or material ... if you have ever been to an elelctrical wholsaler to collect something ... you will see how long it takes ... an online wholsaler which deleivers to site within 3 hours ... I have many idea i want to start turning into a reality ... only 5 months to go.