[imagesource: Adobe Stock]

Well, it’s been a while coming, but it looks like a return to stricter lockdown measures is almost upon us.

Today, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) will meet, to consider restrictions on large gatherings and the implementation of an earlier curfew.

President Ramaphosa will chair the meeting, says News24, with reports that a return to an adjusted alert level 2 may be on the cards, “amid alarm bells that the country was well on its way to the third wave”:

The NCCC is expected to get a report on the growing infection rate as well as a report on the vaccine rollout programme.

An insider, close to the NCCC, said the MAC has raised concern about big gatherings and its contribution to rapidly increasing infection rates…

A decision by the NCCC is expected to be ratified by Cabinet on Wednesday before it is announced…

According to the MAC sources, they did not believe SA would go higher than adjusted Level 2 restrictions.

Pencil in a ‘family meeting’ at some stage soon, then.

At present, the biggest provinces of concern are Gauteng, the Northern Cape, and the Free State, but our restrictions have largely been implemented on a national scale, rather than being localised.

There are also sustained increases in new cases in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Western Cape, with the national positivity testing result now above 10%.

Yesterday, South Africa recorded 2 383 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with 72 confirmed deaths.

Right, let’s talk about why your uncle is going to be forwarding you a panicked voicenote, which is totally legit because the guy in the voicenote says he owns a liquor store, as he queues outside the local liquor store.

Here’s one of the country’s leading virology expert and head of the MAC on vaccines, Professor Barry Schoub:

“I do believe we need tighter restrictions than we’ve got,” Schoub told News24.

He said alternate measures could assist in mitigating the spread of the virus.

“Limiting the number of people at gatherings, extending the hours of curfew and maybe [limiting] alcohol sales,” he stressed.

As the potential for a return to stricter lockdown measures has increased, so too has lobbying from various players within the alcohol industry escalated.

The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in SA (Saapa SA) called on government to reduce access to alcohol last week, and liquor traders have called for an urgent meeting with Ramaphosa before any decisions are made.

Below via The Citizen:

In a letter to the president, National Liquor Traders Council convener, Lucky Ntimane, asked for a consultation with the government before any decisions are made which would impact their businesses.

Ntimane went on to say that the tavern sector alone is worth more than R60 billion in annual sales, and employs in excess of 280 000 people.

He added that where restrictions in economic activity are required, these should be clearly explained with clear end dates, so that businesses can plan ahead knowing when restrictions would be lifted.

Should you rush to the liquor store and stock up? That’s your call to make, but I would advise exercising caution with regards to the fake news that is certain to start spreading as an official announcement following the NCCC meeting looms.

[sources:news24&citizen]