According to reports, The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has been advised, by the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC), to put South Africa under an Alert Level 2 lockdown as a precaution for the Easter holidays.

Scientists and government officials have long warned of a third wave of coronavirus infections, possibly soon after the long Easter weekend. But Cabinet ministers who are part of the NCCC are lobbying for large church gatherings to be allowed over Easter because “churches have been behaving”.

According to the MAC advisory dated last week, sources said, the NCCC was advised to restrict gatherings to 50, impose a 22:00 curfew and restrict the sale of alcohol from Mondays to Thursdays, from 10:00 to 18:00.

Meanwhile German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 states will reverse their plan to toughen virus lockdown measures over Easter. Merkel announced the changes after an impromptu video conference with the 16 regional leaders in which she explained the U-turn and said the mistake was ultimately hers to answer for.

Mellisa Sithole.