Premier Alan Winde calls to end National State of Disaster and save jobs
8 September 2021
During the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) today, I called for the National State of Disaster to be lifted and a better COVID-19 management system to be implemented to reduce pressures placed on the economy and drive job creation.
There should not be a one size fits all approach to implementing restrictions which is why I also called for a differentiated approach. Restrictions should be implemented in line with each provincial healthcare system’s ability to cope. We have learnt how to manage waves and have the capacity to do so at a provincial level. I also submitted that this must now be thought through and put in place before the fourth wave.
We need to get the balance right in saving lives and livelihoods. Our healthcare platform is stable, and we have exited the peak of the third wave. As we approach the summer season, we will continue to monitor our healthcare platform’s response closely, continue to roll out the province’s vaccine programme, monitor COVID-19 workplace safety protocols and promote adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions.
We need to stop the haemorrhaging of jobs and we can safely do this as our healthcare system is stable. The recent Quarterly Labour Survey Results showed that between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2021, 254 000 people lost their jobs due to the implementation of the lockdown. This is deeply concerning, and we must address it by reopening our economy.