DA urges govt to implement sector-specific health protocols
The Democratic Alliance (SA) has urged the coronavirus command council to implement health protocols that are specific to the different industries.
The country will move to level 3 of the lockdown on June 1, which will see more industries reopen.
The DA’s policy head Gwen Ngwenya said on Tuesday that sector-specific protocols will ensure workers’ safety.
"What we have said is, if we cannot provide credible data to trigger each level of lockdown, we then do need to balance saving lives and livelihoods, because we risk as many lives from Covid-related economic risks, as well as the non-Covid health risks that are exacerbated by a stringent lockdown.
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"If we implement sector protocols, it will in its own way show that the opening of the economy is phased. For example, if a health protocol says people have to sit 1.5 meters apart in restaurants, it naturally means restaurants have to prepare for that and not all of them will have the space to open," added Ngwenya.
She said sectoral health protocols will mean not all businesses in the same sector will open at the same time, as some may need more time to prepare.