Political parties urged to ensure Covid safety in final campaign bids
The health minister is asking political parties to ensure Covid-19 safety protocols are followed during final election campaigning and to encourage voters to make use of the pop-up vaccination sites on voting day.
At a briefing on Friday, Joe Phaahla said they were aware of the transmission risks the elections and the political party campaigning pose.
"We are also aware that the next three days over this weekend are going to be the most risky as political parties rally their supporters at big gatherings to motivate them to go out in big numbers on Monday.
"Notwithstanding the fact that most gatherings are held outdoor the risk is still high when large crowds gather with no social distancing, no masks and go on to sing and shout.
"We, therefore, appeal to all political parties to approach their final push gatherings with caution. You all know what saves lives, limit your numbers to 2000 or less, keep distances, wear masks, and avoid clustering before and after the gatherings."
Meanwhile, the South African Informal Traders Alliance has asked the health department to provide mobile vaccination sites that can be set up in major trading spots.
President of the alliance Roshida Muller says many informal traders have lost their livelihood because of the pandemic.
She believes traders should be recognised as frontline workers.
She’s urged them to get vaccinated.
"We are in open areas, we are close together and therefore it is vital like each and every informal trader ensures that he protests not only himself or herself, but the traders in and around him as well as the customer base that they supply. More important is the fact that vaccines will get the economy back on track."
