Strict precautions are essential

LIQUOR traders who opened their doors to customers yesterday have a responsibility to ensure their outlets don’t become breeding grounds for Covid-19 infections.

Under level 3 of the national lockdown, President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced liquor outlets could resume their trade under strict conditions. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, provided more detailed clarity, saying during level 3 businesses with a liquor licence, including bottle stores, restaurants, bars and taverns, could sell alcohol from Monday to Thursday. She also emphasised that alcohol could only be consumed off site.

There is no doubt that the resumption of alcohol trade will have a positive impact on the economy. Thousands of employees working for liquor traders have also returned to work, which will help get the economy moving again.

Other supporting sectors of the economy, including transport and food establishments, would experience a welcome return of customers. All this provides renewed hope for the future of the economy.

However, liquor outlets need to do everything in their power to keep their employees and customers safe.

Adhering to basic hygiene requirements and providing the necessary personal protective equipment should be central to their strategy of keeping workers safe.

Customers, on the other hand, should not be allowed into the premises without masks and physical distancing should be insisted upon, including limiting the number of customers allowed in the outlet.

All these measures should be implemented to ensure liquor outlets don’t become spaces where the virus spreads. We don’t want to see the government closing down these businesses again because of the negligence of a few individuals.

The gains we have made in the fight against the virus should not be reversed.