Easter and 3rd Wave: Level 2 Trends as SA Worries About Holidays
- Level 2 is a concern for many as the Easter holiday celebrations and religious gatherings are quickly approaching
- A recent report revealed that the government was advised to move the country to a higher Alert Level to curb the spread of Covid-19
- South Africans have now taken to Twitter to discuss what they think might happen in the coming weeks
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After a recent report revealed that the National Command Council (NCC) was advised to restrict gatherings to 50 people and impose a 10pm curfew due to the Easter celebrations. South Africans have started discussing the possibility of the country moving to Alert Level 2.
The report stated that the NCC is expected to meet on Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson said the government is keeping a close eye on developments in the pandemic and economy.
The news of the NCC being advised to move the country to level 2 has created a buzz on social media with #Level2 trending on Twitter.
Source: Getty Images
A report by News24 said the NCC was advised last week by the ministerial advisory committee (MAC). The NCC was also advised to go back to selling alcohol from Mondays to Thursdays and to stop the normal trading hours.
Speaking to TimesLIVE Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of the MAC, said he was deeply concerned about religious gatherings, across all groups. Karim said it was his view that the country should be moved to a higher alert level and more restrictions should be instituted to reduce the risk of superspreader events.
Briefly.co.za took to Twitter to see what South Africans are saying about the report:
@Dee_from_Frans said:
"I'm not mad about Level 2."
@Shonny_RSA wrote:
"They better not lockdown this country for easter."
@Jayvee_Marawu tweeted:
"What if they say let's go to #Level2 of #LockdownSA on Easter? Wait and see... This #Level we are in now was a trap, the first step to the 3rd wave."
@TeeGee_Mo2 shared:
"Ramaphosa is waiting for the Easter Weekend festivities to raise the number and activate the 3rd wave, then put us back into level 3 and say 'we are where we are because you people don't listen'."
@WhoIsThuli added:
"Y’all teasing Level 2 on the tl, ion like that."
Previously, Briefly.co.za reported that the government said it was prepared for a third wave. This follows news that Professor Shabir Madhi, prof of vaccinology at Wits University, believed that coronavirus numbers will rise towards May, following Easter.
Prof Madhi was speaking during a leadership dialogue hosted by Wits Business School.
He says that easing regulations before the Easter holiday season could result in the third wave arriving much sooner than expected. Prior predictions suggested the third wave would be arriving towards the winter months (June onwards).
Easter is a big religious holiday that will be celebrated on 4 April and experts believe that the gatherings associated with the holiday will cause a resurgence in numbers.
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Source: Briefly News
