Worries of President announcing a harder lockdown
By Daniel Itai, Pretoria, South Africa
Grave concerns are being raised on whether or not President, Cyril Ramaphosa, will revert to a higher COVID-19 alert lockdown level due to the influx in the number of COVID-19 infections.
Many scientists and doctors across the country have been greatly concerned over the level of COVID-19 complacency with many not practising physical distancing and non-wearing of masks.
However, on the economic side, if the country where to go to a higher COVID-19 alert lockdown level, the country will most likely witness massive huge economic contractions as envisaged by Isaiah Mhlanga, a chief economist at Alexander Forbes.
“What is most important is the hospitalisation rate not the infections which we should consider when putting a harder lockdown however, in the event that we do so this is going to dent any form of economic recovery. If we look at the extent of how the economy has opened most restrictions have been lifted but we also need to look at how other countries are imposing restrictions especially on tourists which affects us. The tourism sector is the one that is still being affected. Moreover, we as citizens we need to assist government and follow all COVID-19 protocols,” said the chief economist.
Mhlanga further added that last month’s economic recovery plan which was tabled by the President was still on track.
“The timelines for the economic recovery are there but some details are still missing as long as they are actionable timelines then it will be okay like energy and spectrum allocation, for now they are certain things that we can track for the next 12 months,” said Mhlanga.
With the duration of the state of national disaster closing to it’s expiration come Sunday, President Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation any day from today on the issue of its extension and on whether or not the country will revert to a higher COVID-19 alert lockdown level.
@danielItai_zw
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