Health MEC Bandile Masuku urges hard lockdown to curb Covid-19 infections in the province
“Nobody goes to work and no-one moves. Then the economy opens up again for a particular period of time and then it closes again. So at least there is predictability and you can control infections in that way.”
The noises coming out of Gauteng, the country’s economic engine, will be of great concern to citizens who have been asked to make great sacrifices since the imposition of a national lockdown in March. Just to rewind, Ramaphosa said at the time that the lockdown was necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19 so that when the surge in cases came, the country’s health system would be prepared.
Makhura himself has in the past pointed out what the provincial government is suggesting now — different lockdowns for different parts of the province won’t work. Could there realistically be a different regime for Soweto and Sandton, for example? What would happen to a worker who resides in Tshwane, which might be closed, but needs to be in Auckland Park, which might be open, for work?
Granted the government has made some mistakes with the regulations and there are specific relaxations that could be reversed without much of an economic costs. The decision, for example, to allow religious gatherings could not have been based on any sound science, and even leaders of religious bodies were reluctant to allow congregations to resume.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gauteng Covid-19 SOS: province pleads for hard lockdown regulations to curb surgeThe Gauteng government wants the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to allow it to reintroduce hard lockdown regulations in an attempt to curb soaring Covid-19 numbers in the province.
Read more »
Decision expected at weekend on possible reintroduction of hard lockdown for GautengThe spectre of a hard lockdown again looms over Gauteng as the government’s National Coronavirus Command Council meets at the weekend to decide how to stem the spike of cases across the province.
Read more »
PODCAST | Lockdown day 100: complacency killsSaturday July 4 2020 marks SA’s 100th day in lockdown.
Read more »
PODCAST | Lockdown day 100: complacency killsSaturday July 4 2020 marks SA’s 100th day in lockdown.
Read more »
Gauteng private hospitals under pressure but not full, hospital groups sayGauteng health department spokesperson Philani Mhlungu said the system was under pressure.
Read more »
All of Gauteng’s public emergency services now run by provincial health deptGauteng health department has over the years subcontracted municipalities as agents to render emergency medical services.
Read more »