Covid-19 update: Booze ban challenged, SA hits over 20 000 cases
South African Breweries has opted to take the government to court in a bid to relax the ban on liquor. Briefly.co.za explores the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in SA.
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The alcohol ban was returned with the shift to Level 3 lockdown to mixed reviews from citizens and those in the industry.
Now, SABS has opted to challenge the government in court over the constitutionality of the ban.
Briefly.co.za explores the latest updates on the pandemic below:
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1. SABS takes government to court over booze ban
South African Breweries has opted to challenge the constitutionality of the liquor ban in court.
The group produces the majority of the nation's beer and had attempted to get the government to consider alternatives that could have both limited the spread of the virus and the economic impact on the industry:
“We are concerned about the resurgence of the Covid virus and remain steadfast in our intention to continue to support the government in flattening the curve, but the third ban on the sale of alcohol goes well beyond what is reasonable and necessary to contain the spread of the virus."
An urgent interdict has been launched in the Western Cape High Court seeking to have the ban set aside, with the state given two weeks to respond.
2. Mkhize on latest statistics
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has once again updated the nation on the latest Covid-19 statistics.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Mkhize confirmed that SA has hit a new high in infections:
"Today, we have reached a grim milestone as we breach the 20 000 mark for new cases identified in24 hours. 21 832 cases have been identified since the last report, bringing the total cumulative COVID-19 cases in South Africa to 1 149 591."
In addition to this new record number of cases, SA has recorded a high quantity of fatalities:
"Regrettably, a further 844 deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 452, Free State 12, Gauteng 96, Kwa-Zulu Natal 65, Limpopo 11, Mpumalanga 8, North West 46, Northern Cape 5 and Western Cape 149. This brings the total to 31 368 deaths."
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that a World Health Organisation mission to China to determine the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic is seemingly over before it even began.
The expert team has been denied entry into the country, with WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signalling his immense disappointment with the situation:
"Today, we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team's arrivals in China."
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Source: Briefly News
