According to South African media reports on January 7th local time, South Africa added more than 20,000 new confirmed cases in a single day on January 6.
South African Health Minister Zveli Mukez said that this is an important node in the country’s increasingly serious epidemic, and South Africa may further strengthen anti-epidemic measures in the future.
At the peak of the first outbreak, South Africa had a maximum of about 17,000 new confirmed cases and about 300 deaths in a single day. After the second outbreak, the number of patients increased at a rate unmatched by the first outbreak.
On January 6, South Africa added 21,832 new confirmed cases in a single day, and 844 people died of COVID-19.
Local media said that some cabinet members have proposed to raise the epidemic prevention level from level 3 to level 4 (up to level 5, under which all residents are not allowed to go out at will).
Considering the impact of epidemic prevention restrictions on the South African economy, the Cabinet is holding urgent consultations on the decision.
While most South African nationals support the government’s harsh measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, as the impact on the economy increases, the South African government is facing increasing pressure from all walks of business, and some organizations have filed legal proceedings against the government.
On January 6, the South African Brewing Association (SAB) announced that it would file a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the “prohibence” announced by the government during the fight against the epidemic.
According to the South African Brewing Association, this is a last resort to protect the livelihoods of all people in the brewing industry.
South African courts ruled in 2020 that the government’s ban on the sale of tobacco products during the fight against the epidemic was unconstitutional, and the South African government is currently preparing to appeal.
The South African government and medical association have repeatedly said that prohibition has reduced the pressure on South African hospitals to treat patients with car accidents and related diseases caused by drinking, so that hospitals can focus on treating people infected with COVID-19.
The ban on smoking also helps to reduce the burden on hospitals and reduce the possibility of the country spreading the virus due to cigarette sharing.
But critics stressed that smoking and alcohol prohibition did not have a practical effect, but caused black market sales to soar, and the tax revenue of the Ministry of the State Administration fell sharply.
