If there were any doubts about the dilemma that faces governments as they seek ways to open their economies and facilitate some kind of return to normality in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, events across the world this week will help to dispel them. And they demonstrate why President Cyril Ramaphosa’s emphasis on personal behaviour in the next stage of fighting the spread of the virus is the correct one.
These cases highlight the challenges SA is facing as it eases its lockdown conditions further, a move that comes as we are heading towards our peak in infections and fatalities. While in SA we had already opened most of the economy, key sectors such as tourism were still left behind. They got some respite with some of the easing announced on sit-down restaurants, hotels and casinos, among others. The president still didn’t go far enough.
Surprisingly, nothing was said about further easing on local travel either. If people aren’t able to travel, the casinos and hotels will remain largely empty.