Western Cape considering own Covid-19 interventions, says Winde
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the provincial government will argue against a complete lockdown, but rather seeks a “targeted, local interventions based on scientific evidence”.
Winde’s comments come after a meeting by the National Covid-19 Command Council (NCCC) on Monday, where the rising infection rate in especially the Western and Eastern Cape were discussed.
“As I have announced before, the Western Cape government and local governments in the province are considering their own localised interventions and restrictions to slow the spread of Covid-19 in line with our own respective powers, and we will be setting out our response plan at my weekly digital press conference on Thursday.”
“A lockdown would be disastrous for our economy, will cause major job losses, and indeed a humanitarian disaster, and must be prevented at all costs.”
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President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to engage with the premiers of all 9 provinces at a Presidential Coordinating Council meeting on Wednesday.
Government is concerned that South Africans’ behaviour over the festive season could lead to a spike in Covid-19 infections and fatalities.
South Africans have been urged to practice caution over this period.
This includes the wearing of masks, hand sanitising and keeping a social distance.
