Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says that a decision to move South Africa to a higher lockdown level is currently being discussed by government officials.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the SABC, Mkhize said that the decisions will be based on recommendations from epidemiological experts as well as business and members of civil sector.<\/p>\n
He said that there have been recommendations to introduce a stricter lockdown as part of a consultation process based on scientific evidence.<\/p>\n
However, he noted that the government has also received a request from the religious sector to allow for increased church attendance over the Easter weekend.<\/p>\n
“This is a sensitive period where there is the vulnerability and the chance of the risk that we could have a super spreading event, with all the festivities and activities that go with the Easter long weekend.<\/p>\n
“So the advisory was for a temporary increase in restrictions over this period of time,” he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the government has to take into account that we must discourage super-spreader events<\/strong> over the Easter weekend, we need to avoid inter-provincial movement<\/strong> which could lead to spreading the virus.<\/p>\n However, he noted that South Africans have largely learnt their lessons over the past year on issues such as mask-wearing and\u00a0social distancing, indicating that government may not have to be overly strict with a lockdown.<\/p>\n