South African opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has lauded the decision to ban the sale of alcohol during the country’s month-long lockdown period.
In a statement released on Monday, the EFF revealed that there was an unprecedented decrease in trauma cases reported by one of the country’s renowned hospital. Part of the statement read:
The EFF notes the unprecedented decrease of trauma cases reported by the renowned Groote Schuur Hospital during the first weeks of the Covid19 National Lockdown.
The Hospital has recorded a 66% decrease in trauma cases on weekend to the weekend basis which the trauma unit head, Professor Andrew Nicol, has attributed to the ban of alcohol.
The hospital added that this unprecedented decrease in cases in the trauma unit provided great relief for health workers and hospital resources. As a result, more time and resources get to be dedicated to patients needing intensive care, operations, and other admissions.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, South Africa’s neighbour to the North banned the sale of alcohol earlier this month but swiftly reversed the decision. Bars and beerhalls remain closed but beer is being sold freely in supermarkets.
Some reports claim that South Africans have vandalised the Beitbridge border fence to gain entrance into Zimbabwe to but alcohol.
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