No plans to reintroduce stricter lockdown rules in South Africa right now: minister
Minister in the presidency Jackson Mthembu says that government currently has no plans to review its relaxed lockdown rules and does not plan to reintroduce a countrywide ban on the sale of alcohol at this point in time.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Mthembu said that the cabinet had not discussed reversing the relaxation of regulations.
“The decision of cabinet stands. It is not up for reviewal … we have not discussed the reviewal of those measures. Not at all.
“All we have said is let’s have discussions with the experts and see how they look at measures that we have taken so that we are advised,”
He added that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) will receive a briefing from the health ministerial advisory council (MAC) on Tuesday to get an understanding of how the relaxed regulations have impacted the health system.
It is also expected to advise on the impact of the tobacco ban and whether the government can open the economy further — including allowing seated patrons at restaurants, and hotels and B&Bs to operate.
Growing concerns
Mthembu’s comments come after Gauteng premier David Makhura said that his provincial government will make a decision in the coming days as to whether it will call for the reinstatement of an alcohol ban in the province.
Makhura said that the reintroduction of the sale of alcohol under South Africa’s level 3 lockdown has led to a direct increase in trauma-related cases.
“The cumulative impact is something we can see, especially in the wards. We were happy that some of the wards were empty. Some are now filling up. When the discussion takes place there is no doubt that we will share the experience of Eastern Cape.
“We will say that we are deeply concerned. We have not yet come to the decision as Provincial Command Council that says alcohol should be completely banned. We have been dealing with the effect of it.”
Other provincial governments have noted that the sale of alcohol has also led to an increase in hospital admissions unrelated to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Western Cape premier Alan Winde said that the increase in alcohol-related admissions is particularly damaging as the province prepares for an influx in coronavirus cases.
“We have spent all this time and energy to makes sure that our health response is ready, we fought really hard to make sure that we get to level 3 in this province and now I’m being let down.
“We cannot allow this to happen, we have got to make sure that responsibility is taken up. This is a partnership between government and the citizens,” he said.
This was echoed by Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane, who last week noted that hospitals in the province have seen a sharp spike in trauma cases directly related to alcohol abuse.
Mabuyane said that he was alarmed to see long queues at liquor stores, and said it would likely increase the rate of infection in the province – which is the second-hardest hit after the Western Cape.
He said that the province would lobby the national government to reintroduce the alcohol ban if things did not improve.
“We are hopeful that such scenes won’t be a constant feature in our province going forward, because we would be left with no choice but to lobby the national government to prohibit the sale of alcohol again.
“Protecting lives is more important than alcohol sales,” he said.
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