**Abstract**

This chapter provides an overview of the positive and negative impacts the Covid-19 pandemic has on women entrepreneurs in South Africa. The chapter recognises the role that women entrepreneurs play in the economy and society. The research objectives for this study were to first identify the importance of female entrepreneurs. Secondly, to determine the positive and negative impacts that Covid-19 has had on South African women entrepreneurs, and lastly, to identify the assistance provided to women entrepreneurs by the government. The methodology used to conduct research was desktop research. Information was collected from online databases in the form of articles, journals and textbooks. Only information relevant to the research objective was selected for this study. The findings revealed that female entrepreneurs play a vital role in the South African economy by creating employment opportunities, decreasing poverty and contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP). The findings revealed that lockdown restrictions implemented by the government due to Covid-19 led to many women-owned businesses not being able to operate, a decrease in sales, a drastic drop in revenue, lack of digital knowledge among women, increase in anxiety experienced by women and women entrepreneurs. The findings also suggest a lack of digital knowledge among women entrepreneurs and a lack of financial assistance provided by the government. Regulators and policymakers are challenged to invest in efforts that create an environment where female entrepreneurs are capacitated and provided with information to withstand the challenges brought by the pandemic.

**Keywords:** Covid-19, coronavirus, women entrepreneurs, South African women entrepreneurs, positive impacts of Covid, negative impacts of Covid


*3.1. Extraction of Threshold Voltage (VT*0*), Specific Current (IS) and Slope Factor (n)*

The values of the threshold voltage (*VT*0), the specific current (*IS*) and slope factor (*n*) were extracted from the *gm*/*ID* curve [16] illustrated in Figure 5b, which was measured with the circuit configuration in Figure 5a.

**Figure 5.** (**a**) Circuit to extract parameters from (**b**) the *gm*/*ID* and *ID* curves.

Based on the method described in [16], the values of the threshold voltage and the specific current were determined through the *gm*/*ID* characteristic written in (20), which was valid for all regions of operation.

$$\frac{\mathcal{S}\_m}{I\_D} = \frac{1}{I\_D} \frac{\partial I\_D}{\partial V\_G} = \frac{2}{n\phi\_l(\sqrt{1+i\_f} + \sqrt{1+i\_r})}\tag{20}$$

$$\frac{V\_{DS}}{\phi\_t} = \sqrt{1 + i\_f} - \sqrt{1 + i\_r} + \ln\left(\frac{\sqrt{1 + i\_f} - 1}{\sqrt{1 + i\_r} - 1}\right) \tag{21}$$

Expression (21) is obtained by applying the UICM to the drain and source terminals. For *if* = 3 and *VDS*= *φt* 2 , expression (21) results in *ir* = 2.12; under these conditions, *VT*0 corresponds to the gate voltage at which *gm*/*ID* = 0.531(*gm*/*ID*)*max*, while *IS* corresponds to *ID*/0.88, where *ID* is the drain current at *VGB* = *VT*0. The method described for the extraction of the values of *VT*0 and *IS* assumes that the variation of the slope factor with the gate voltage is negligible. The slope factor (*n*) can be extracted from (22), which is the asymptotic value of the *gm*/*ID* curve in a weak inversion. The points used to determine *VT*0, *IS* and *n* are shown in Figure 5b.

$$\left(\frac{\mathcal{G}\_m}{I\_D}\right)\_{\max} \approx \frac{1}{n\phi\_t} \tag{22}$$

The DIBL factor (*σ*) does not appear in (20) because the short-channel effects, namely DIBL, velocity saturation and channel length modulation are not relevant in the linear region. Consequently, the extraction of *VT*0, *IS* and *n* in the linear region is also valid for short-channel devices.


*3.1. Recommendation 1: Regular Patient-to-Nurse Ratio*

When able to, recommend nursing staffing (1:1 or 1:2) in the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide high-quality patient care, improve safety, have fewer complications, and better outcomes (Figure 3). This should be followed until such time that the surge is felt. At that time, progression to Recommendation 2 will be made.

**Figure 3.** Standard ICU staffing model. (1 ICU-trained nurse: 2 patients).