Churches versus businesses

Compelling arguments that certain businesses categorised as “high-risk economic activities”, such as hair salons and restaurants, could implement social distancing measures better than churches have been raised.

Hairdressers, for example, have argued that hygiene protocols and scaling down their client lists could easily be done, but remain one of the industries that may have to wait for Level 1 lockdown to be able to reopen.

Free State University pro-vice-chancellor and head of the department of economics, Professor Philippe Burger, said he agreed with the categorisation of highrisk economic activities, because restaurants, bars, hair and beauty salons deliver personal services to their clients that involve coming in close proximity.

This poses a problem if just one staff member gets sick and the number of clients they could potentially infect.

Burger said, however, that reopening churches across the country was not a wise decision. He pointed to examples of how church gatherings in South Korea, France and Germany played a significant role in spreading Covid-19.

Even in South Africa, “infection numbers in the Free State are higher than in provinces such as the Northern Cape and the North West because of a single church conference early on in the onset of the virus in South Africa,” he explained.

But despite the risk associated with opening businesses, Burger said this was being done reluctantly, knowing the risk of spreading the disease, to put food on the table. This is not the case with churches.

“We can practice our religion at home to not endanger others or be exposed to the infection ourselves. We are opening up [businesses] because we have no choice.

“Love thy neighbour now truly means keeping your distance from your neighbour,” Burger said.

He said the broad intention with Level 3 was to try and open as many businesses as possible, while implementing social distancing.

“But we need to realise that although these social distancing safety measures might go some way to protect people, they are not foolproof. There will be more infections as a result of opening up,” said Burger. – Nica Richards