The forthcoming religious
holidays have raised alarm bells in the corridors of government with fears of a
possible increase in the COVID-19 infections.
Acting Minister in the Presidency
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC)
was considering proposals made this week by several advisory panels, and that
the president would make an announcement once a decision had been made.
“Whatever decision is taken will
be temporary and would put lives and livelihoods first. In terms of
speculations around announcements about how we are going to handle the Easter
period or the upcoming religious holiday period, we’ve been clear that there
should be a plan in place,” Ntshavheni said.
She further noted that the
president would be addressing the nation soon.
“That will be communicated
by the president of the republic when that decision is taken on the measures
that are to be implemented during this religious holiday period.”
Health experts have warned about
the threat of a third wave of infections since the country went into eased
lockdown level 1 in February, projecting that a swell in infections should
become evident as the country approaches winter.
While the typical modelling
points to a May/June start for a third wave, super-spreader events as a result
of Easter celebrations threaten to bring that forward, with some models showing
the wave as early as April.
