STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, GOOD MEMBER OF THE WESTERN CAPE PARLIAMENT AND SECRETARY-GENERAL
13 MAY 2020
GOOD WELCOMES THE INDICATION OF INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS
ALARMING THAT WESTERN CAPE’S HIGH INFECTION RATE APPEARS SET TO KEEP US LOCKED INTO LEVEL 4 FOR LONGER
The announcement by the President that parts of the country will move to Level 3 of our lockdown is welcome.
In order to maintain public support for the lockdown; and its strict regulation of movement, work and daily activity; it is important that we see that the lockdown is working and that we are making progress.
The high levels of infection in the Western Cape, and the rapid rise in infection in the Eastern Cape, is very worrying.
There is an obvious connection between the two provinces and the governments of these provinces should be working together to minimise the transmission of the virus.
The Western Cape’s very high infection rate is deeply concerning. It would help if the DA and its government would stop explaining the infection rate as an indication of better testing and the death toll as a result of co-morbidities.
This defensive explaining undermines the key message that everyone of us needs to isolate as much as possible and take precautions. The attempt to deflect the meaning of the numbers increases the risk of infection for everyone of us in the Western Cape.
Their conduct in this regard is reckless and dangerous and now it appears that some of the people of the Western Cape will be confined to level 4 lockdown beyond the rest of the country. The DA’s communications has been irresponsible.
We welcome the indication of a relaxation of e-commerce trading activities, increased retail activities and new exercise allowances. .
The most important thing is to prevent the collapse of the health system as we have seen in countries with similar inequalities and poor infrastructure. We do not want to see piles of body-bags on the streets and in shipping containers with families frantically searching for their deceased loved ones.
At the same time we need to get as many economic activities, as possible, back to business. This is an impossible balancing act requiring decisions that are made on the basis of modelling and projections and without the benefit of any previous experience with this virus.
In circumstances like these the obvious default position is to be cautious rather than bullish. You can ease out of an overly cautious position but you cannot reverse a health disaster and every death it brings.
We urge the people of the Western Cape to exercise extreme caution and to exercise patience and compliance so that we can reduce the spike in our infection rate and make progress in the opening of our economy and lifestyles.
We are saddened by the passing of ENCA cameraman Lungile Tom. Our condolences are extended to his family, friends and colleagues in the media industry.
Ends…