South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a new set of COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, including closing bars and reinstating bans on liquor sales.
Medical experts warn that the country’s health system is in danger of being overwhelmed due to increasing cases of coronavirus coupled with people needing urgent care due to incidents involving alcohol. Recently, a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus has been detected in South Africa that has resulted in many countries restricting or banning travel to and from the country.
According to a report by The Associated Press, South Africa saw a whopping 60 percent drop in hospital trauma cases following an earlier ban on liquor sales in April and May, a number that started to rise when the ban was lifted.
Angelique Coetzee, president of the South African Medical Association, told the AP, “To relieve the pressure on the system at this time of year when we only have skeletal personnel working, especially in the public sector, but also in the private sector. sector, we are asking for stricter restrictions on social gatherings. “
The AP notes that the alcohol industry in South Africa was the hardest hit, and many alcohol traders had appealed to the government to try to avoid a blanket ban on the sale of spirits.
Aside from banning liquor sales, the new restrictions include closing all beaches and public pools in contagious hot spots, as well as an extension of curfews, the AP reports. Residents now have to be home from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Masks are now mandatory in public areas, Ramaphosa said, with those caught violating the mandate facing a fine or even a criminal charge that could lead to jail time.
South Africa surpassed 1 million COVID-19 cases on Sunday and has confirmed more than 26,000 deaths from the virus so far.