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Western Cape Premier Alan Winds
- Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde urged shoppers to shop online as much as possible before Black Friday.
- He called on retailers to ensure that measures are in place to limit the risk of Covid-19 infection.
- According to the most recent statistics for the province, the Western Cape has had 125,369 cases, of which 6,678 are active.
Ahead of Black Friday, Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde has urged shoppers to shop online as much as possible, warning that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, these consumer outings could turn into events. of great diffusion.
According to the province’s most recent statistics released on Tuesday, the Western Cape has had 125,369 cases, of which 6,678 are active.
In the last 24 hours, 654 new infections have been confirmed. A total of 114,145 people have recovered, while 4,546 have died.
Figures published by the national health department confirm 772,252 cumulative cases, of which 2,493 were recently diagnosed.
Gauteng has the most cases with 30.2%, followed by the Western Cape with 16.4%.
Winde, in a statement, said that while businesses and consumers alike have had a “rough year,” and with sales like these bringing welcome commerce and savings, Black Friday had become synonymous with large crowds and meandering tails.
He warned that we were still in a pandemic, and called for extreme precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
‘Correct security measures’
The provincial department of economic development and tourism has met with retailers and real estate groups that manage the main shopping centers to “underscore the importance of having adequate security measures in place.”
“I would also like to personally appeal to retailers to do the right thing and to ensure that steps are taken to limit the risk of Covid-19 infection,” he said.
He continued:
This includes queue and crowd management, access control, and ensuring that hand sanitizers are widely available and that masks are worn correctly by staff and customers at all times.
“We are also calling on retailers to consider extending the length of sales or their business hours to better manage crowds.”
Winde urged shoppers to shop online.
“If this is not possible, ensure your safety and the safety of those around you by wearing your mask and practicing social distancing. Make sure to wash or disinfect your hands regularly. If you are not feeling well, do not go to stores.
“We call on everyone to remember to avoid the 3 Cs: close contact, crowded spaces and confined spaces. No savings are worth the cost of your health or the life of someone who may be in an at-risk group.”
Vanessa Herbst, a spokeswoman for the Western Cape’s largest shopping center, Canal Walk, said Wednesday that many retailers have extended the Black Friday sale this year, rather than the usual one-day sale.
He said the mall would have additional staff, including additional Covid-19 compliance officers on the ground to monitor that customers are following all regulations.
“We have met with major stores and urged all of our retailers to ensure that all Covid measures are met in their stores,” he said.
Tenants are responsible for ensuring that all regulations are followed within their stores, while the center would ensure that the protocols are in effect during the Black Friday period and the Holiday Season, Herbst told News24.
“We expect an increase in influx and retail activity over the next few weeks before entering our traditional holiday season. Starting December 15, we will extend our business hours until 10:00 PM.”
* This story has been updated.
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