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- Religious leaders have urged parishioners to be cautious to avoid a second wave of infections.
- This followed reports of new infections and of people ignoring Covid-19 protocols.
- Under the Level 1 lockdown, religious gatherings still have limits on the number of participants and must adhere to health protocols and social distancing.
Religious leaders this week urged parishioners to remain vigilant to minimize the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Under lockdown level 1, gatherings at religious institutions are limited to 250 people indoors or 500 people outdoors. No more than 50% of the place can be used and participants must comply with health protocols and social distancing.
In a joint statement issued by the leadership of the South African Jewish community, he warned parishioners that he had received reports of 31 new cases in the Johannesburg Jewish community from the Hatzolah emergency medical service records alone.
The statement was issued by the Chief Rabbi’s Office, the South African Board of Jewish Deputies, Professor Barry Schoub, Dr. Richard Friedland, and Professor Efraim Kramer.
“It seems that most of these cases may come from private social gatherings and not from shuls or schools,” they said.
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“The threat of a resurgence of the epidemic remains very real, as the recent increase has shown, and it is vitally important that people remain vigilant and cautious with regard to security protocols.”
They advised parishioners to avoid social gatherings in people’s homes.
“This is not the time for complacency. This is the time for caution, which can save many people from serious illness and death.”
The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJC) also warned people this week.
He praised places of worship for implementing health measures, but noted that “some members of our community do not adhere strictly to physical distancing protocols by stopping wearing masks and even making physical contact through handshakes.”
“While during non-Covid times this behavior would have been acceptable, at this time we still have to be patient until we are informed that it is safe to do so,” said MJC spokesman Mujaahid White.
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