May 2020 SOUTH AFRICAN UPDATE ON CORONA VIRUS STATUS Last evening the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the country outlining what has happened in the country since the lock down was implemented at midnight on 26 March. On the 1 May the country went from level 5 to level 4 with certain restrictions being lifted. Last night the President advised that as from 1 June we will go down to level 3 but it was also emphasized that with winter fast approaching there will be an increase in the number of cases reported which will result in an increase in the number of fatalities. To underline this, of the total number of cases reported to date, one third were reported in the past week. It is still expected that we will not reach our peak until September. This may sound somewhat confusing that we have been able to reduce our level but at the same time advise that there will be an increase in our numbers over the next three months. However, the Government has had to balance the health issue with that of the economy of the country. Certain areas within the country have been identified at Corona Virus Hot Spots, and the whole of Gauteng has been named as such an area. This is where the number of cases is higher than the National average per 100,000 people. The Cape area has been identified as the worst affected area within the country. A number of restrictions have been further lifted but there still remains a blanket ban on gatherings (except for funerals which are now limited to 50 people) such as restaurants, theatres, church services and all sports. However, we are now allowed to cycle, walk or run at any time during the day. Tennis SA have lobbied government to allow a limited return to tennis and especially coaching. It is now two months since coaches last worked. It is anticipated that coaches will soon be allowed to return to work but only on a one on one basis and certainly not in any form of group coaching. This one on one coaching will be done under strict rules surrounding health and safety and coaches will be given a clearance certificate on a month to month basis to allow them to conduct such coaching. We will be approaching Tennis SA to obtain this clearance for our development coaches in both Vosloorus and Kenton this week and hopefully within a short space of time we can introduce some coaching at this level during June. Previous Article TWO VOSLOORUS PLAYERS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT GAUTENG EAST Next Article DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES COULD SOON BE RE STARTED.