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The Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) says it will challenge any stricter curfew implemented by the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the national government.
Wendy Alberts, Executive Director of RASA, said Jacaranda radio station that the country’s restaurants would be badly affected by a shutdown as the country enters the holiday season.
He said the government has not consulted with the industry on its plans to reintroduce more restrictions.
“We are certainly going to challenge any restrictions that have been placed on the restaurant industry. We want all restaurants to inform us if any authority has contacted them in the last month to inform them that there is Covid-19 in their establishment ”.
Sources that were part of the government’s National Coronavirus Command Council indicate that the country’s coronavirus hot spots will face additional restrictions. News 24 reported.
Some of the proposed restrictions include:
- The introduction of a curfew at 10pm, with restaurants closed at 9pm;
- Prohibition of alcohol consumption in public areas;
- Meetings Restriction: Funerals and religious services will be limited to 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors;
- The formwork of open public spaces, which may include beaches.
It’s unclear when these reported restrictions will go into effect.
Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has said the business sector will likely support localized lockdowns if they factor in the potential damage to the economy.
“From a business perspective, it is critical that we let as much of the economy run as possible,” Mavuso said.
“That means when we must shut down economic activity, we must do so in a way that targets the areas where infection rates are most in need of control, with minimal collateral damage to the overall economy.”
Mavuso said this means:
- Keep the locks localized;
- Allow the rest of the country to function as close to normal as possible;
- Establish clear indications on what infection rate will trigger these blockages; Y
- Clearly indicate which rules will apply.
“I can understand the temptation of political leaders to make radical national decrees. They are simpler to enforce and non-compliance is easier to identify. But the cost of simplicity is unnecessary financial damage. “
From a public policy perspective, Mavuso said the government should strive for a regional approach to the blockades in order to deliver the best results.
He said the country also needs a policy approach that sets out what infection rate levels will trigger additional measures and what rules will apply.
“If we establish it, we can see the complexity involved in its compliance. I hope that companies will widely support this approach and add the necessary resources to manage compliance, ”he said.
Read: Cape Town plans to introduce its own local coronavirus restrictions
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