Wits Professor Shabir Madhi, who oversees South Africa leg of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial, wants borders to be reopened and the resumption of international flights
As South Africans are expecting a further easing of lockdown regulations, Shabir Madhi, Professor at the University of Witwatersrand said the country is now in a position to move to Level 1, but has warned that it should be done with much carefulness.
“We need to do it in a guarded manner, in fact, what we can’t allow to happen right now – while there is a decrease in circulation of the virus right now – is to allow for mass gatherings. [That is] because that could lend itself to super-spreading, which is something that we are wanting to avoid.”
Wits Professor Shabir Madhi, who oversees South Africa leg of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial, wants borders to be reopened and the resumption of international flights.
“There is absolutely no reason for the borders to be shut and not to allow international flights. For a country such as South Africa where the virus continues to circulate, allowing travellers to come into the country is going to have a nominal effect in terms of this particular outbreak.”
During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s meeting with the South African Editors Forum this week, he mentioned that the country might soon move to a lower level for lockdown regulations.
