[Sylvia F. Hammond]

This afternoon – 28 March 2020 – Minister Nzimande – under his dual responsibility for DHET & DSI – updated South Africa on two critical innovations under the Science and Innovation department.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has finalised a platform to provide a “core situational awareness” for the whole country.

The CSIR is working with the Department of Health to ascertain health vulnerabilities. The capability will provide the means of accessing data for the whole country to street & household level. The data banks to be developed will indicate where the virus is, to enable the targeting of resources allocation.

Secondly, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) is conducting a survey to ascertain current behaviour patterns and attitudes towards the virus, which will be indicative of the specific intervention requirements. To date 2400 have been conducted.

The intention is to periodically release results – to inform the nation on the response to COVID-19.

The human factor is most important, and the Minister indicated that private sector researchers have come forward to assist and the Minister indicated that the department will be following up.

Reports will continue to update on progress.

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