South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced a new set of COVID-19 restrictions, including closing bars and imposing a ban on liquor sales.
Medical experts warn that the country’s health system is in danger of being overwhelmed by increasing cases of coronavirus, along with those who urgently need care due to alcohol-fired incidents. A new, more contagious strain of coronavirus has recently been detected in South Africa that has caused many countries to restrict or ban travel to and from the country.
According to a report by The Associated Press, South Africa has seen a drop of as much as 60 percent in trauma cases at hospitals following a previous ban on liquor sales in April and May, a number that began to rise when the ban has been lifted.
Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of the South African Medical Association, told the AP: “To alleviate the pressure on the system during this time of year, where we only work skeleton staff, especially in the public sector, as well as in the private sector, we are calling for stricter restrictions on social gatherings. ”
The AP notes that the South African alcohol industry has been hit hardest and that many alcohol traffickers have called on the government to try to avoid a total ban on liquor sales.
Apart from the ban on liquor sales, the new restrictions include the closure of all beaches and public swimming pools in contagious hotspots, as well as an extension of the evening clock, reports the AP. Residents must now be at home from 21:00 to 06:00
Masks are now mandatory in public spaces, Ramaphosa said, with those caught violating the mandate subject to a fine or even a criminal charge that could lead to imprisonment.
South Africa surpassed 1 million COVID-19 cases on Sunday and so far confirmed more than 26 000 deaths due to the virus.