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Judging by my feed on Facebook, more than a few people celebrated the downgrade to alert level 2 by abandoning PPE and physical distancing in favour of a few drinks with their mates, in bars.

To each, their own, but we’re nowhere near out of the woods just yet.

The initial reason given for the ban on the sale of alcohol at the start of lockdown was to decrease the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions, and in doing so, ease some of the pressure on the healthcare system.

Then, when the ban was partially lifted in June (restaurants still couldn’t serve booze), there was a noticeable increase in admissions and the prohibition was reinstated as hospitals struggled to cope.

Now, once again, we’re allowed to buy alcohol, and this time restaurants and bars are allowed to serve it.

Naturally, inquiring minds want to know how this is playing out.

CapeTalk spoke to Dr Saadiq Kariem, Chief Director General of Specialist and Emergency Services for the Western Cape Department of Health, who took a look at what impact the new regulations have had on admissions over the past week and weekend.

To do this, he phoned the hospitals, including Tygerberg, Groote Schuur, Somerset, Mitchells Plain, and Khayelitsha, where most trauma cases go.

“All of them had double the number of trauma-related cases this past weekend compared to the weekend before.”

Among the cases were gunshot wounds, stabbings, motor vehicle accidents, and pedestrian accidents, and some cases of gender-based violence.

Of the above, Kariem says that 85% of those cases were alcohol-related.

“We are still coping for the moment and that’s why we watch both COVID and non-COVID statistics very, very carefully so daily we keep a finger on the pulse”, says Kariem, who is monitoring the situation.

If occupancy in hospitals reached 85%, they are considered full.

You can listen to the full interview below:

As always, it’s important to drink responsibly.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that when a ban on alcohol sales is implemented, it has far-reaching consequences for the economy and the livelihoods of multitudes of South Africans.

We still have a long way to go – keep it tidy.

[source:capetalk]