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Western Cape calls for reopening of businesses, end to alcohol ban in the province

  • Premier Alan Winde says he’ll continue visiting areas most affected.
  • Image Credits :
  • sabc-news-Alam-Winde-@AlanWinde
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the provincial cabinet is calling for the safe opening of all businesses because the province has managed to flatten the curve in coronavirus infections.

The province also wants an end to the alcohol ban to stop job losses in the sector. The Western Cape has 8 631 active coronavirus cases

Winde will engage the President’s Co-ordinating Council and the Ministers of Co-operative Governance and Health on his cabinet’s position.

“We have sufficient health capability to manage COVID-19 patients within the province, we have flattened the curve sufficiently that we would support the opening now of the economy – safely. Each and every one of those companies and businesses need to operate under a new normal but our capacity is now in place sufficiently to allow economic growth and job creation.”

With 7 292 new confirmed cases recorded on Friday, South Africa’s COVID-19 cumulative total number rises to 545 476.

The country records 305 COVID-19 related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 9 909. The number of recoveries currently stands at 394 759 which translates to a recovery rate of 72%.

Winde appeals to business to ensure maximum safety

Winde has appealed to businesses to always act with the best interests of their clients and staff at heart and abide by the COVID-19 restrictions and regulations to ensure maximum safety.

The province also said clinical protocols are already being developed for the use of the drug, Dexamethasone, in its battle against the disease, following outcomes of a recovery trial in the United Kingdom, which shows a positive impact on severely ill patients and those on ventilators.

In the video below, Prof Salim Karim unpacks the use of Dexamethasone to treat COVID-19:

Dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory medication which was found to have reduced mortality rates by a third, has been hailed as a breakthrough in saving the lives of those severely ill with COVID-19.

Health Department Head Keith Cloete said South Africa is a major manufacturer of the oral form of the drug and also has large stocks of the intravenous version.

The ministerial advisory committee in SA has already considered the results and has made a recommendation that we should use. On the basis of the results of the study, Dexamethasone in the treatment of people on ventilators and the treatment of people on oxygen because of the good results that have been recorded in the study.”

The results of the Oxford University trial, although not yet formally published, have paved the way for its use in decreasing COVID-19 deaths. Provincial Health Minister, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, says the drug will be introduced as an essential drug.

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