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A new document released by the South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) shows how South Africa could function after the closure, beginning Friday, May 1, 2020.
The document outlines a government proposal to keep a range of restrictions in place as the blockade is removed across the country, and also introduces a five-stage alert system that will determine which companies can operate, depending on the severity of the outbreak. of coronaviruses in the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech to the nation on Tuesday (April 21) that the cabinet had agreed that South Africa needed to restart the economy, but that it had to do so cautiously.
“As I said earlier, if we end the coronavirus blockade abruptly, we face the uncontrollable spread of the disease,” he said. “Therefore, we will follow a gradual approach to reopen the economy.”
He said the government will balance the need to ensure that infections are minimized with the need to get people back to work.
More details of the approach will be announced Thursday.
Document proposals
The proposal document published by SATSA shows how this could work.
“There are serious risks associated with lifting the blocking restrictions too soon, or in an unsystematic and disorderly manner,” the document states.
Restrictions on economic activity need to be tailored to epidemiological trends, and may need to be relaxed and adjusted over different periods, he said.
One of the key proposals in an alert system, to be created with clearly defined levels of restriction that the National Command Council can impose as necessary.
This system would have so many five levels and would allow flexibility and responsiveness, reducing the need to modify regulations in the future.
To determine which sectors should gradually be allowed to resume activity, three criteria would be used:
- Transmission risk (including ease of implementing mitigation measures)
- Expected impact on industry of continuous blocking (including previous vulnerability)
- Value of the sector to the economy (eg contribution to GDP, multiplier effects, export earnings)
Based on these factors, the government could determine a “risk score” that will give an indication of which sectors could operate at any given level.
Due to the high risk of transmission in certain sectors, the document establishes that the restrictions will have to remain in force for these sectors after the national closure, regardless of the level of alert at any given time.
This includes:
- Seated restaurants and hotels;
- Bars and shebeens;
- Conference and Convention Centers;
- Entertainment venues, including cinemas, theaters, and concerts;
- Sports events;
- Religious, cultural and social gatherings.
There is also a proposal to further restrict meetings, with no more than 10 people outside the workplace allowed.
Regarding public transportation, the document says that passengers in all modes of transportation must wear a cloth mask in order to enter the vehicle. Hand sanitizers must be available, and all passengers must disinfect their hands before entering.
Public transportation vehicles must be disinfected daily, he said.
In addition to the above, the following rules would also apply to all sectors and alert levels:
- Industries are encouraged to adopt a work-from-home strategy whenever possible, and all staff who can work remotely should be able to do so.
- Workers over the age of 60, as well as workers with concomitant illnesses identified by the Department of Health, must be offered a work-from-home option or allowed to leave with full pay.
- There must be protocols in the workplace that include disease surveillance and prevention of the spread of infection.
- All employers must evaluate staff daily for Covid-19 symptoms, including a symptom check and temperature assessment.
- All employees should wear a cloth mask, especially when social distancing is not possible.
- Work environment to have disinfectants available or soapy hand washing facilities.
- Strict measures of social distancing must be implemented in the workplace.
Read: Ramaphosa Announces R500 Billion Aid Package As South Africa Prepares To Slowly Reopen Its Economy
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