A Wits vaccinology professor has taken a swipe at the government’s dithering when it comes to ending the State of Disaster. COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma revealed last week that a number of COVID policies – including social distancing and wearing masks – could remain as a permanent fixture.
State of Disaster extension ‘causing confusion’
Not only has this set alarm bells ringing amongst the public, but the COVID experts of South Africa have also been disturbed by these claims. CSIR researcher Ridhwaan Suliman stated that there was ‘very little reason’ to extend the State of Disaster this week – but these rules are now likely to be prolonged.
With many Western nations now ditching their virus restrictions for good, it was hoped last month that Mzansi would follow suit. The government even said as much during the February renewal, where they promised the most recent extension of the State of Disaster ‘would be our last’. Fool us once…
Wits professor questions effectiveness of masks
The mixed messages coming from the ANC’s top brass is sewing seeds of frustration amongst the public. Two years of lockdown compliance is wearing thin, and any reason given for extending our lockdown laws would now be flimsy at best. Professor Shabir Madhi can barely comprehend the situation.
For the past few weeks, he has called for all COVID controls to come to an end – and questioned the need to enforce the wearing of masks outdoors. In fact, Madhi has since stated that masks worn by ‘most South Africans’ barely made a difference before the Omicron wave hit.
“As for masks, I assume government hasn’t yet realised, had the type of masks that 99% of masks South Africans used actually worked, we wouldn’t have 70% population infected before Omicron.”
“As for outdoor gatherings… hello? – Has anyone been watching the Premier League? There is extensive immunity against severe COVID across the population. This is painful…”