Ryland Fisher
There are different kinds of people and, depending on the kind of person you are, this would have guided your response to what President Cyril Ramaphosa said when, on Saturday night, he announced a relaxation in the lockdown levels in an attempt to repair our very broken economy.
There are people who always follow rules and wait for guidance on what they are allowed to do, or not to do, from those with power and authority.
These people would have dissected the speech and would have rejoiced at the announcements that alcohol and cigarettes will be on sale again – legally – and that family visits can now also take place once again – the first time since the national state of disaster began five months ago.
They would also be happy that they will now be able to visit their favourite pub or restaurant – if it has not closed down permanently, like the oldest pub in South Africa, Perseverance Tavern or Persie as it was called by the regulars. (The pub announces last month that it was closing its doors after 212 years.)
Those who have been feeling trapped, not only in their homes but also in their province, would have rejoiced at the news that they will once again be able to travel to different provinces even though that visit to the family in England will have to wait for another while.
I am not one of those who listened in anticipation of a relaxation in lockdown levels to the President’s speech. Part of the reason is because I am not one of those who always look to people in authority to tell me what to do. I prefer to assess the information at my disposal and let that guide me in how I should approach any matter. I have always believed in doing what is right and not what the law or regulations say is allowed.
In the case of the coronavirus, I am not entirely convinced that relaxing the lockdown levels was the correct thing to do, even though I understand the President’s dilemma. South Africa had a weak economy even before the lockdown began – it was necessary at the time and probably still is, but it has only become worse over the past five months. Urgent steps were needed, and are still needed, to try and salvage what is left of the economy.
I fear that the relaxation in lockdown regulations might lead to some irresponsible behaviour over the next few weeks and months, and I am not only talking about people getting excessively drunk or stoned.
As far as I am concerned, I will continue to operate as if I am at lockdown level five and not level two. And this is not only because, in the middle of the lockdown I had a special birthday and I suddenly found myself falling into the vulnerable group who are most susceptible to the virus. I would have done this irrespective of my age or my health.
I do not have any allegiance to smoking or drinking but feel that these two vices often get a bad rap when there are other vices – such as consuming too much sugar – which can sometimes be more dangerous. But I don’t want to give the government any ideas, because there are some people in government who have seen how they can control us using the guise of the pandemic, and they seem to love their newfound power. I suppose many people in government are closet dictators.
I don’t know if I will go and visit family and friends, unless it is in an emergency and we are able to observe safe protocols. I don’t know if I want to go into anyone’s house but my own. So, I suspect, if I have to visit anyone, I will probably find myself talking to them from a distance outside their house. I will not encourage anyone to visit me: family or friends.
The same rules will apply to restaurants. My first choice would be not to go but, if I go, I will sit outside and very far from the person I am meeting, unless I am going for a meal with my wife or my daughters who live with me.
I don’t think that I will attend any live events for a while, even if government allows it again any time soon.
Irrespective of where I find myself, I will continue to apply the diligence and protocols that I have applied for the past five months: I will wear a cloth mask whenever I am in public; I will wash my hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as often as possible; I will sanitise my hands in between; I will ensure that there is enough social distance between me and others who do not live with me; I will work from home as far as possible and will try to meet most people only virtually, unless I have no other choice….
I will do this not because the President or someone in government has told me to do so, but because I believe this is a small contribution I can make to keep myself and my family safe and also hopefully contribute to the fight against the coronavirus which has already killed so many people.
I intend to stop doing so only when a proven vaccine is found for the virus – and not a moment sooner, irrespective of whether government ends the lockdown and the national state of disaster in the next few months. I believe it is the right thing to do.
(Written especially as a blog for this website 16 August 2020)
