South Africa: Troops on standby to provide field hospitals

The entire South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) - more than 73,000 soldiers - has been put on standby to help in the fight against coronavirus, the government has announced.

Speaking to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on Wednesday, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the troops included medical personal and would be on hand to set up field hospitals if needed. 

The defence force has been deployed to all nine provinces in South Africa in order to support the national effort of containing and preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Among other responsibilities, SANDF will support the police in enforcing lockdown regulations, enhance border safeguarding, set up roadblocks and carry out medical screenings. 

The SA Military Health Services have also been instructed to provide medical support to the military community - including soldiers and their families - provide personal protective equipment to troops, and carry out tests for the virus among the armed forces. 

The defence minister said the entire SANDF had been put on standby now that the “magnitude of the challenge” has become known. Originally only 2,820 troops were deployed, with the minister saying those soldiers were now exhausted.

The decision was welcomed by the defence committee. 

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