Covid-control measures killing in more ways than medical
21 January 2021
Tragic as it is to read the daily death toll of the Covid-19 virus, another horror risks being forgotten – the collateral deaths wrought by the pandemic and the associated measures taken to control its spread – the collapse of thousands of small, medium and micro-enterprises across the country.
The Western Cape, a world tourism destination, has been particularly hit by the blanket closure of liquor outlets, the ban on alcohol sales and the mindless closure of beaches – the one place where social distancing occurs naturally and can be controlled.
The collateral damage of these actions have been devastating to hundreds of business, from restaurants, licensed bars and saloons to boutique wine farms and bed and breakfast establishments throughout the region and the country.
This draconian action taken for reasons bordering on panic rather than careful thought is having long-term consequences that will be felt years after the pandemic ends—as it will.