The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says alcohol should not be sold under level 3 and schools should not reopen until more scientific data is available to ensure they will not lead to the spread of the coronavirus.
The EFF said there was currently no creditable (sic) scientific data that illustrates that the easing of the lockdown regulations, even with precautionary measures such as wearing masks, washing hands and constantly using hand sanitisers will not lead to the increased spread of the [coronavirus]’.
Stemming the spread of Covid-19, according to the EFF, would only be further hampered by schools reopening and lifting the ban on alcohol sales.
Spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said that ‘even where there is no effort to contain a pandemic, alcohol has been responsible for many health-related and social ills in society’.
The EFF has demanded that the government reconsider the ‘premature, senseless and reckless re-opening’ of the economy and schools, until scientific evidence shows it is safe to do so.
Once schools open various safety measures must be implemented, including additional classrooms to limit the teacher-to-pupil ratio to 1:20; social distancing spaces, including assembly points and retail food spaces; the discontinuation of contact sporting activities; clean water supplies and clean toilets for all schools.
‘We know that many schools, especially in rural areas and townships, do not meet these conditions and therefore the intention to reopen schools before these conditions are met must be rejected with contempt,’ said Pambo.
The easing of national lockdown regulations should only begin once the daily infection rate of Covid-19 was below 45 people.
IRR analysts point out that it’s unclear what the EFF’s strategy aims to achieve as it is likely its chief constituency would want the lockdown to end because penury and joblessness are the pressing issues.