Today marks 678 days, nearly two years, since the country was placed on lockdown in the war against the Covid-19 pandemic that has wrought and continues to wreak havoc around the globe in one mutation or the other.
The initial lockdown that even saw the army brought out of bases to carry out foot patrols to assist the police enforce the measures truly brought home to many the yearn for a return to normal, post-coronavirus life we once knew. It is a wish that has largely driven efforts to curb the spread of the virus in pursuit of the desired end.
The nation is currently on alert level 1 of the lockdown, as we inch towards normalcy. The adjusted level is far removed form the early days of the lockdown which has come to be categorised as level 5.
On Monday, the presidency announced that certain measures on this stage were to be further relaxed as it declared the country to have officially overcome the fourth wave of the outbreak, driven by the Omicron variant of the virus.
It is welcome news that brought with it the return to a full week's schooling for pupils in primary and secondary schools, as well as those at tertiary level. Schoolchildren will no longer take turns attending classes.
Breaking the news, our online publication SowetanLIVE reported that among the changed regulations are "the regulatory provision for social distancing of 1-metres for pupils in schools has also been removed".
We must warn though that the return to almost normal routine in our schools as indicated by the removal of even the social distancing requirements in seating arrangements has the potential to lead to complacency in as far as vigilance against the virus is concerned.
Schools therefore will need still to advocate such routines as the wearing of masks, regular washing of hands with soap and water and alcohol-based sanitisers and regular sanitising of the environment.
It's what the new normal of the Covid-19 reality still demands of everyone if we are to avoid catastrophic outbreaks in the event of yet another wave hitting us.
What we welcome the most is the return to a semblance of normality with learning and teaching at schools. When the matric results were announced about a fortnight ago, the nation gave itself a pat on the back on the back of outstanding results achieved in very trying conditions.
Indeed, there would have been lessons learned as schools navigated their way through a treacherous field. They would do well to normalise that which worked under the circumstances and continue with good practices.
Let's not drop our guard and lose ourselves in the euphoria of a normalising atmosphere at the risks of losing our gains.
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.