We urge the government to put lives first as it decides what level of lockdown and restrictions to impose over the Easter weekend.
The only restrictions that would make sense would be to ban all large gatherings, limit alcohol sales and close restaurants, bars and taverns earlier to avoid Covid-19 infections shooting up again. We are still going through a pandemic, thousands of people have died and there is no room for populist decisions.
The Sunday Times reported that the government was contemplating to allow outdoor gatherings of up to 5,000 people and 1,000 indoors. This arrangement is meant to cater for churches as they celebrate Easter, but no decision has been taken yet.
The national coronavirus command council (NCCC) is said to be concerned about safety over the upcoming long weekend and whether regulations would be followed. But an NCCC source was quoted saying: “On the other hand, we have churches who have been pleading that there have been no services and they do not want to miss Easter for the second time, so we have to balance those factors. A decision has not been made. It is a difficult one.”
Another idea discussed by the NCCC was allowing indoor gatherings of 500 people and 1,000 outdoors and a third one of 250 indoors and 500 outdoors.
The last option is a better one in terms of safety as the 5,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors one is just plain reckless. How would churches enforce physical distancing with so many congregants? Do they even have capacity to implement all Covid-19 protocols, which include sanitising?
The government should go for the lowest numbers for gatherings or ban them completely as big parties like the matric pupils’ Rage late last year were fingered as super-spreaders in the last wave.
Allowing 5,000 people into one venue would be a recipe for disaster, which would kick-start the anticipated third wave. This is no time to please church leaders who can celebrate Easter virtually. The government’s only concern should be to save lives from the killer virus.
Until such time when it would be safe to gather in large numbers, let’s keep safe and stay away from crowded places. We have lost thousands of lives. As we approach the third wave, it must show in our behaviour that we have learnt something from the past. We cannot commit the same mistake twice.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.