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Amid reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa is ready to impose additional lockdown restrictions on South Africans, the alcohol industry is pleading with the government not to ban the sale of spirits.
Various sources said on Sunday (December 27) that the president would meet with cabinet ministers as part of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to discuss what can be done to fight the second wave of Covid-19 that is emerging in many parts of the country.
The Sunday Times reported that there may be more restrictions on meetings and possibly more stringent controls on alcohol sales, while Maroela Media reported that an announcement on the measures to be taken could arrive in a few days.
Concerns are mounting after a record daily rise in infections last week, much higher than during the peak of the first wave in July, as well as reports from hospitals that they are reaching capacity.
As of December 26, South Africa has reported a total of 994,911 Covid-19 cases, down from the 1 million mark. 11,552 new cases were reported daily, after two record increases of more than 14,000 cases on Thursday and Friday of this week.
There were also 256 new deaths, bringing the total to 26,521, while recoveries are now 839,194, leaving the country with a balance of 129,196 active cases.
Don’t ban alcohol
While there has been no confirmation of the direction the NCCC will take, the alcohol industry is preemptively pleading with the government to stay away from alcohol prohibition and engage with industry stakeholders to find a better solution.
The South African Liquor Traders Formation and Breweries (SAB) called for the ban on alcohol to be lifted.
The SAB said it fully supports the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa and shares the government’s concerns regarding the resurgence of the second wave, but stressed that the alcohol industry in the country cannot withstand another alcohol ban.
“SAB does not believe that a total ban / total closure of alcohol sales is a sustainable approach, as seen with the last two bans. The unintended consequences of such actions are dire, from job losses, tax losses, illicit trade and the looting of alcohol shops, ”he said.
“We support measures that include an earlier curfew, a reduced number of indoor and outdoor gatherings, and alcohol restrictions if any; still, they should provide safe and controlled activities on premises and off-site sales to enable safe consumption in the home.
The Liquor Trader Training, meanwhile, said the government should speak to the industry before making major decisions that could affect the economy.
“We understand the situation the country is in and we are aware that the president and his government have to make difficult decisions in the coming days and, as citizens of the country, we will support government initiatives to address Covid-19,” he said. .
“However, we believe that any decision affecting our industry should be discussed with us beforehand and our input should be considered before communicating any decision to the general public.”
A higher lock level is recommended
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) said the stricter lockdown restrictions will not necessarily help the country fight the spread of Covid-19 if they are not enforced. However, the country should move to a higher level of lockdown, he said.
SAMA President Dr. Angelique Coetzee told ENCA that law enforcement is a major issue, as South Africans generally do not adhere to current regulations, maintain social distancing protocols, or wear masks.
“We can introduce the strictest regulations; if it is not enforced, it will not help. Right now, what is extremely important is to introduce enforcement regulations, ”he said.
This is particularly important in meetings and in any situation where people are together in closed spaces. If the capacity of any room is greater than 50%, that is extremely dangerous and people should try to get out of this situation, Dr. Coetzee said.
Dr. Coetzee said that lockdown level 2 would be the recommended level to position the country to better cope with the resurgence of Covid-19, but again emphasized that a better application and that each South African takes into account their own health and safety would be the key to successfully fighting the virus.
Read: More lockdown restrictions are coming as South Africa nears 1 million Covid-19 infections – report
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