The use of ‘fabric’ face masks as an additional preventative measure against COVID-19 has been recommended for public use by the National Department of Health (NDoH). 

The spread of COVID-19 is mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.Therefore, wearing a fabric face mask is added as a prevention measure to help limit community transmission of the virus.

South Africa's military reserves have been called up to join the fight against COVID-19 as the pandemic continues unabated, the army said on Thursday.

The mobilization involves reserves in the South African Army, South African Air Force, South African Navy and the South African Military Health Service, said R.C. Andersen, Chief of Defence Reserves.

These four services form an important component of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).To date, a large number of the reserves in each of the four services have been called up and deployed on borderline protection and together with the Regular Force in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Health to combat COVID-19