Covid level relaxation

[claidheamhmor]

South Africa moves to Level 3 lockdown next month. The main changes are: 

• We can buy and transport alcohol at limited times (basically Monday to Thursday, probably to reduce weekend binge drinking). At least we'll be able to get the wines and gins we ordered delivered. Cigarette sales are still prohibited. 
• We can exercise 6AM to 6PM, and I think there's no distance restriction, instead of 6AM to 9AM within 5km of home.
• Various retail/commercial areas can open, though with various precautions and restrictions. Some cannot - gyms, hairdressers, theatres, etc. and anything requiring close personal contact.
• Sale of hot food is allowed, ditto take-away collection and drive-through. Sit down restaurants must remain closed.
• All clothing sales is allowed.
• Domestic air travel for business allowed. Hotels, etc. and tourist facilities must still stay closed.
• Masks are required in all public areas.

The oddball one, though, is places of worship: they may open with a 50 person limit and with various precautions. This looks like a political decision pushed by the SA Council of Churches (though even the Jesuits think it's a bad idea). Why places of worship and not hobby clubs, or family get-togethers, or D&D, or other small social meetings? And how will charismatic churches handle it when they get 3000 people arriving at a service? Religious services are a hotspot, and I think this will cause more infections. I think any sort of social gathering like this is a bad idea, especially with our rates and deaths starting to increase rapidly. :(

Comments

[cracked_belle]

I grew up in the faith. but all of the wiser religious folk with whom I speak understand they still have to do some work for their god(s) to help save them, lol. and that means not cloistering together in large groups unnecessarily. especially wherein so many of the churches these days have already been having online service availabilities.

however, masks aren't even mandatory here. because that invasive on our rights at 'Mericans. ugh.

(I told my friend (who already knows I'm misanthropic) that I was hardcore Team Covid, and she was not amused.)

[claidheamhmor]

Team Covid, LOL. For me, the masks are handy, because if someone doesn't have one, they're probably careless about all sorts of other precautions.

[cracked_belle]

you make a very, very good point...

[cat_hellisen]

ugh the places of worship thing is SO DUMB.

It's the kind of people who think god is going to protect them from a virus that are going to spread this disease. ffs


but, yay for some vino?

[claidheamhmor]

Yay, vino - the cheap ones, at least. When the queues die down.