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Members of the National Coronavirus Command Council. (GCIS)
- The National Coronavirus Command Council is expected to reflect on the increase in the number of church and religious gatherings during the Easter weekend.
- This occurs, despite the advice of the Ministerial Advisory Committee: made up of some of the country’s leading scientists – that the country should go to alert level 2.
- South Africa expects a third wave of coronavirus infections after Easter.
The Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to put the country under an Alert Level 2 lockdown as a precaution for the Easter holidays, as News24 understands.
Scientists and government officials have long warned of a third wave of coronavirus infections, possibly shortly after the long Easter weekend.
But NCCC cabinet ministers are pushing for large church gatherings to be allowed during Easter because “the churches have been good.”
According to MAC’s notice dated last week, the sources said, the NCCC was recommended to restrict meetings to 50, impose a curfew at 10 p.m. and restrict the sale of alcohol from Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. at 18:00.
The NCCC was also advised to close the great beaches and restrict interprovincial travel to avoid super spreader events, which are expected during Easter.
READ | Covid-19: Gauteng government is concerned about infection risk on Easter trips
Sources close to the discussions said cabinet ministers appeared to be in favor of imposing precautionary restrictions, but argued that churches should be allowed to hold larger meetings.
The South African Council of Churches has expressed dissatisfaction with the current restrictions under Alert Level 1, which allows religious gatherings, subject to adherence to health protocols and limits attendance to 100 people for indoor venues and 250 for outdoor venues. fresh air.
“The ministers were saying that the churches have been behaving and ensuring that the protocols are followed, so they should be allowed a greater number,” a source told News24.
But the health department is understood to have challenged this at the NCCC meeting over the weekend.
They also cautioned that the imposition of prudential restrictions was not based on scientific evidence and could therefore be challenged in court.
“Salud said that if we impose restrictions and they take us to court, we can lose in court. There is no scientific basis for restricting alcohol, for example, because our hospitals are currently empty and ICU beds are empty. Defend the decision when the alcohol industry takes us to court? “said a second source.
An NCCC meeting scheduled for Thursday is expected to decide the matter, internal sources said.
Cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams could not be reached for comment. Your reply will be added once received.
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