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On Sunday, the nation marked another pandemic milestone with more than a million South Africans contracting the virus since it first appeared in March.
FILE: A city of Tshwane health official takes a nasal swab for the COVID-19 coronavirus from a taxi operator on Bloed Street Mall in Pretoria’s central business district, on June 11, 2020. Image: AFP
CAPE TOWN – There are increasing calls for increased restrictions on COVID-19 as infection numbers continue to accelerate.
On Sunday, the nation marked another pandemic milestone with more than a million South Africans contracting the virus since it first appeared in March.
READ ALSO: SAMA wants the country to be under level 2 blockade again
There have been numerous warnings from the Health Department of the rapidly increasing infection rate, and over the weekend, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) met to assess the situation and decide how to proceed.
Professor Adrian Puren from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the four provinces they are most concerned about remain Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
“There is some evidence even though there are still a large number of cases. In fact, the Eastern Cape has probably peaked, and I think there is also evidence to some extent in the Western Cape that they may well peak. Whereas I think KZN and Gauteng are still on an upward trajectory. “
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) called for the entire country to return to level 2 of the blockade, with tightening of meeting restrictions.
“Going to level 2 lockdown has certain advantages; has a curfew at 10 pm, stipulates a maximum of 50 people at meetings and only 10 people at social gatherings in people’s homes. But it is not enough to lessen alcohol trauma, which is putting pressure on hospitals right now and we should consider suspending liquor sales at the facility until January 3, ”said Charles Parry of SAMA.
The NCCC will have to balance the accelerating burden of infections with the need to protect a battered economy.
And liquor dealers have begged the government not to block their sector again.
Lucky Ntimane of the Liquor Dealers Association said they wanted the government to talk to them before they made any sudden moves.
“We understand the situation the country is in and we are aware that the president and his government have difficult decisions to make in the coming days and as citizens of the country we will support government initiatives to face COVID-19,” said Ntimane it’s a statement.
“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,” he added.
Meanwhile, medical professionals agree that restricting alcohol consumption does have an effect, specifically because it reduces the number of alcohol-related trauma cases they must treat, which are preventable cases and divert their attention from dealing with the pandemic.
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