State of Disaster: Residents weigh in on transitional provisions
Review asked residents whether they think people will still adhere to restrictions for the next 28 days and if not, whether they think this puts us at risk of a more severe fifth wave and at risk of reinstating the State of Disaster?
POLOKWANE – Many breathed a sigh of relief on Monday (April 4) when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the end of the National State of Disaster.
The Covid-19 lockdown finally came to an end, more than 750 days after the start of the State of Disaster with the president citing the downward trend in relation to new daily infections, Covid-19 deaths and number of patients in ICU for its ending.
However, in doing so, President Ramaphosa said there would be certain transitional provisions that would remain in place for 30 days after the termination of the National State of Disaster, to ensure essential public health precautions and other necessary services are not interrupted while the new regulations in terms of the National Health Act come into effect.
These include wearing a mask when indoors, the continuation of the R350 grant payments as well as the extension of the validity learner’s licence, driving license cards and other measures.
On Tuesday (April 5), the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said while the current environment allowed for the relaxation of some regulations, if the fifth wave hit the country with a surge in deaths and hospitalisations, the government would bring back the national state of disaster.
The Polokwane Peview asked a few residents: Do you think people will still adhere to restrictions for the next 28 days? If not, do you think this puts us at risk of a more severe fifth wave and at risk of reinstating the State of Disaster?
