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Rising infections spark fears of third Covid wave Lindile Sifile and Penwell Dlamini > By Lindile Sifile and Penwell Dlamini - 14 May 2021 - 07:09
As rising infection numbers continue to spark fears of a third Covid wave, several sectors that operate on the basis of gatherings feel there has been little change in behavioural interventions needed to stave off another wave.
Churches, restaurants, the alcohol industry and the hospitality sector, which all operate on the basis of gatherings that could potentially contribute to the spread of the virus, said they were willing to assist the government’s efforts, to avoid total bans. But there appears to be no evidence of behavioural interventions they have put forward to mitigate this.
A general view of liquor for sale on December 03, 2020 in Durbanville, South Africa. It was reported the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has recommended the restriction of alcohol sales amid fears of a second COVID-19 surge . Picture: Gallo Images/Jacques Stander
The alcohol industry has released a statistical analysis to support their argument that the reduction of trauma admissions during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown could not be primarily attributed to the banning of alcohol.
The analysis sought to draw attention to other factors, including curfew, which has been mainly cited, to be considered and not for the focus to be on alcohol, saying it was not the only thing on which restrictive measures were imposed during the lockdown.
For more than 140 days over the past 12 months, South Africans were unable to legally buy booze due to COVID-19 restrictions. The divisive regulation was practically unique to our nation, and following FOUR separate alcohol bans, the liquor industry has been brought to its knees. And yet, after all that… it might have all been a complete waste of our time.
South Africa trauma numbers ‘not driven by booze limitations’
A new study has poked some massive holes in the government’s logic. Those serving in the National Coronavirus Command Council have consistently argued that trauma cases in our hospitals decline when an alcohol ban is in place – yet their reasoning somewhat falls apart, when you weigh our numbers against countries that did not enforce prohibition.