Current threat of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa.
We have been requested to provide the public health reasoning behind the ever increasingly stringent recommendations regarding the current Covid-19 pandemic.
These are unprecedented times and we are painfully aware of the extraordinary sacrifices, hardships and difficulties which are being called for. However, as health professionals and experts in the field of infectious diseases epidemiology, we cannot underestimate the unprecedented danger which the current epidemic of Covid-19 virus threatens our community and, of course, the country as a whole.
Scientific studies in South Africa have shown that the country is nearing the tipping point of over 100 local transmissions of the virus which would trigger an outbreak of over a 100 000 cases in less than a month and thousands of deaths. It is unfortunately true that in our Jewish community are also Covid-19 positive cases some of whom have already attended simchas or davened in a minyan.
We cannot over-emphasise the seriousness our community faces with respect to developments around the coming outbreak. Only by rigorously following these guidelines can we hope to ameliorate the extent of the epidemic.
Undoubtedly the most important measure of control is social distancing and anything which can minimise the extent of social distancing must be enforced. It is probable that the Government will itself ramp up measures to increase social distancing.
For our community we are appealing for the following:-
1. Simchas such as weddings and Brit Milah – weddings should be limited to the immediate family and no more than a total of 20 people should attend, together with the minimum supporting staff such as a photographer, waiters, and, if necessary, a band – but only for background music and strictly no dancing. Present at a brit milah should be the mohel and the parents only.
2. Restaurants – no sit-down facilities and only take-aways and deliveries.
3. Minyanim – unfortunately there are still some shuls which have remained open in spite of the letter from the Chief Rabbi appealing for shuls to be closed. These minyanim, no matter how they justify this with their efforts on social distancing, are endangering the lives of people in our community and the population at large. “Private minyanim” in houses are an even greater threat.
The situation continues to evolve and these recommendations may be subject to further change
Dr Richard Friedland, Professor Barry D Schoub
Chief Executive Officer OMS, MB BCh, MMed, MD, DSc, FRCPath, FCPath(SA), FRSSAf, MASSAf Netcare, Formerly Executive Director, National Institute for Communicable Diseases BVSc, MBBCh, MBA, Dip Fin Man Professor Emeritus of Virology, University of the Witwatersrand