The coming storm, however, has “DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAMS ON HIGH ALERT AS INTENSE COLD FRONT SET TO AFFECT PARTS OF KZN.”
KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has placed disaster management teams on alert across the province following a warning from the South African Weather Service. The warning indicates that an intense cold front could hit parts of the province on Thursday going into the weekend.Meanwhile, the country struggles to keep up with Covid cases … and the occasional locust flitting about in this garden gives one pause. (Perhaps these are stragglers from the devasting locust swarms plaguing East Africa?)
The cold front is expected to bring the possibility of heavy rains, flooding, gale-force winds and snowfall in high-lying areas. Hlomuka has urged residents across the province to exercise caution as the expected change in weather conditions could pose a serious risk to human life.
“We are appealing to residents to take this warning seriously and to put in place the necessary measures to protect themselves and their families. Teachers and parents are requested to ensure that learners utilise safe routes on their commute to and back from school,” said Hlomuka.
"As a province, we take this weather alert seriously and we will be monitoring the situation, especially in areas that we know are prone to localised flooding. We are urging all motorists to be extra vigilant as roads can become slippery. We call for extra caution when crossing bridges, especially in low-lying areas, and we also urge residents to avoid crossing rivers. Those residing in low-lying areas are urged to seek shelter on higher ground”.
Covid-19 has the upper hand, with confirmed cases soaring:
- July 9 - worldwide: 12,041,500 confirmed infections; 549,470 deaths
July 2 - worldwide: 10,729,340 confirmed infections; 517,055 deaths - July 9 – US: 3,054,800 infections; 132,300 deaths
July 2 – US: 2,688,250 infections; 128,104 deaths - July 9 - SA: 224,665 infections; 3,602 deaths
July 2 - SA: 159,333 infections; 2,749 deaths
[Predictions suggest] that Gauteng, a province of 15 million people, will overtake the southern tip of the country as the centre of the crisis. Numbers here are now set to breach total infections of 70,000, and the epidemic has reached the point where almost everyone knows someone who has Covid-19.Doctor says, “There are no more beds…”
Total official deaths are still low at 403, but doctors have told Daily Maverick that classification of deaths may mean the numbers are higher, as this Medical Research Council report revealed at the end of June.
And within the province, the Covid-19 centre in Johannesburg had a total of almost 32,000 cases by 7 July, with recoveries at about one in three. Both Soweto and the inner city are chalking up big numbers of infections, showing that the coronavirus has moved from suburb to township.
We have probably by this week run out of capacity to treat people. And it makes you feel useless as a doctor to have to say that to someone. But there’s nothing else we can do. … What you can do as an individual is protect your neighbour, friends and colleagues by staying away from them, keeping your mask on and washing your hands. There’s not much else you can do other than that, really.
News blues…
The US is tearing apart with Trump versus health scientists , US surpassing records with 59,000 confirmed Covid cases in one dayMap to track coronavirus’ global spread
***
The Lincoln Project’s new ad, Names names names…. Their promo:Don’t ever forget who enabled Donald Trump.
Donald Trump wrecked the Republican Party and then he wrecked this nation.
Most Republican senators stood by and said nothing while he did it. Many of them enabled it. Some of them made it worse.
Remember their names: Mitch McConnell. Lindsey Graham. Thom Tillis. Cory Gardner. Martha McSally. Ted Cruz. Joni Ernst. Marco Rubio. Susan Collins. John Cornyn. Jim Inhofe. Mike Rounds. Steve Daines. Tom Cotton.
For The Lincoln Project, stopping Trump is just half the battle.
Any of these Republicans could have stepped up. They could have held the President accountable. They could have spoken the truth. They could have voted for his removal.
But, every time they had a choice between America or Trump: they chose Trump.
We’re never going to forget it. We know you won’t, either.
They too must be defeated.
We’re putting this ad up in their home states, so their voters know their cowardice and betrayals.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Setting up a new security system provides unexpected opportunities to gauge one’s new service provider.After the new provider’s technician switched the hardware yesterday, I forgot to test the system. After nightfall, upon attempting to arm the security system, we discovered the exterior system was disconnected. The technician had switched the interior but not the exterior system.
I called the new provider and we discussed, first, setting two guards on the property overnight. That, however, would provoke anxiety in my elderly mother who has access to the CCTV monitor. (She’d see unfamiliar faces and be unsure if they’d were guards or potential perps.)
Ultimately, we agreed the guards would patrol outside property as part of their regular neighborhood duties.
This resulted in regular security vehicle drivebys with bright white zig zag lights flashing and an even brighter spotlight raking the property at regular intervals.
Hmmm.
Moreover, my mother was too anxious to sleep. She reports staying awake all night, eyes glued to the CCTV.
The new security provider arrived early this morning to connect the exterior system.
As of now, all appears well.
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