Western Cape must heed science and common sense on Covid restrictions

30 March 2021

In his desperation to oppose whatever national government may be contemplating to prevent the long weekend from becoming a Covid super-spreading event, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has turned his back on common sense.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that there is a massive risk of a spike in Covid-19 infections from large-scale gatherings over the holiday weekend.

But this morning the Premier rushed to record his objection to the possibility of temporary restrictions being imposed to reduce the risk of a spike in infections.

Winde claims he is following the science. We’d like to know: Which science?

Besides most of the nation’s Covid experts voicing concern over the long weekend’s potential to stimulate a third wave of the pandemic, his own Western Cape health department has expressed “extreme worry”.

If, in their wisdom, the experts agree that some sensible, temporary measures are required to restrict gatherings and the unfettered consumption of alcohol then we should support and adhere to them.

We fully comprehend the magnitude of the economic destruction that the pandemic has wrought. If we don’t act sensibly now we will be in for even worse.

As we emerge from our second wave, and see Europe battling its third wave of Covid, some sensible preventative measures to reduce deaths are not unwarranted.

Winde doth protest too much. Saving lives is more important than DA politics.

Issued by Brett Herron, Secretary General, GOOD, 30 March 2021