Letters

New Covid-19 threat emerges

With the massive spike in Covid-19 infections, the National Coronavirus Command Council must, as a matter of extreme urgency, study the report of the 239 scientists from 32 countries, which graphically reveals a new emerging Covid-19 threat, namely – aerosol infection in an open air transmission mode.

It is clearly evident that a new wave of infections could be contamination by tiny droplets or aerosols present in the vicinity of dense human traffic, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with surfaces.

Masks can prevent infections, but aerosol infections can spread through our eyes, which suggests that a new strategy has to be urgently formulated. Tiny aerosols are released into the atmosphere when a person exhales, talks or sings.

A new, limited lockdown under level 3 should consider instructions that citizens minimise time spent in an open air environment and that institutions should be required to install air filters and ultraviolet lights that can kill airborne viruses.

Preventing airborne transmission of the virus should be our next front for the battle against Covid-19.

It is possible that the current huge surge could be linked to a rapidly changing scenario involving aerosol transmission as a deadly emerging factor.

Unless and until we as a nation exercise strict personal control, the chances of containing the virus, let alone defeating it, are diminished every day, as we blatantly and brazenly defy health regulations.

Covid-19 is a rapidly evolving enemy whose venom continues to defy any medical assault, an elusive foe whose shadow now appears in an aerosol silhouette.

Farouk Araie, Benoni

Fruitless expenditure means poor planning

The auditor-general’s report released last week on the state of municipalities in the country raises some concerns.

It is concerning to note that out of the nine municipalities in Gauteng, only one – the DA-led Midvaal – received a clean audit.

For the 2018/2019 financial year, municipalities in Gauteng incurred irregular expenditure of R1.7bn, which is a regression from 2017/2018’s R1.6bn. Furthermore, fruitless and wasteful expenditure for 2018/2019 for Gauteng municipalities stands at R209m , a regression from R60m the previous financial year.

The increase in fruitless and wasteful expenditure means that the municipalities did not plan properly for goods and services they would require for the financial year. As a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, I will be closely monitoring this trend.

Adriana Randall, DA MPL