Covid-19 info pack

A fact sheet by WWF South Africa providing guidance on the nature, transmission, and prevention of Covid-19, alongside advice for managing the social and economic impacts of lockdowns in South Africa.

• Covid-19 is a novel virus that emerged from a market in China involving seafood, poultry, and live wild animals, subsequently spreading to over 100 countries, including South Africa.
• The virus is primarily transmitted between people via respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes, which can also contaminate surfaces. High-risk groups for death include the elderly, healthcare workers, and those with weakened immune systems.
• The primary strategy to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed is "flattening the curve," achieved through social distancing and limiting social interactions.
• Preventative measures include frequent hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser with at least 70% alcohol, avoiding touching the face, and maintaining a distance of two metres from others.
• In South Africa, specific vulnerabilities include high numbers of people with HIV or TB. For those without running water, the document suggests using plastic bottle devices like "tippy taps" for hand hygiene.
• The economic impact of the crisis is expected to hit vulnerable workers hardest, including domestic workers, hospitality staff, and spaza shop owners, with a high risk of retrenchments in retail, manufacturing, mining, and tourism.
• Testing in South Africa is free for those who meet specific criteria: having symptoms and having either travelled outside Africa in the last three weeks, been in close contact with a known positive case, or being a health worker who worked with known cases.

APA

WWF South Africa (n.d.). Covid-19 info pack. https://www.wwf.org.za/our_news/news/?31301/Why-we-must-slow-down-the-spread-of-Covid-19-urgently

Chicago

WWF South Africa. Covid-19 info pack. n.d. https://www.wwf.org.za/our_news/news/?31301/Why-we-must-slow-down-the-spread-of-Covid-19-urgently.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=Covid-19 info pack |url=https://www.wwf.org.za/our_news/news/?31301/Why-we-must-slow-down-the-spread-of-Covid-19-urgently |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafricandcovid19, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{Covid-19 info pack}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, url = {https://www.wwf.org.za/our_news/news/?31301/Why-we-must-slow-down-the-spread-of-Covid-19-urgently}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }