Environmental Health to zoom in on Easter gatherings

30 March 2021

With some concern that the holiday period could result in a spike in Covid-19 infections, the City’s Environmental Health Practitioners plan to cast the net wide in their compliance oversight visits.

The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Health Practitioners will intensify Covid-19 compliance visits over the Easter long weekend.

Particular focus areas will include restaurants, retailers, the monthly First Thursdays event,  as well as religious gatherings.

‘We continue to be very mindful about a potential resurgence in Covid-19 cases, which means vigilance remains key. And, while there is reasonable compliance with health and safety protocols, we cannot afford to slip up. Easter is a very important religious holiday, but it is also popular among holidaymakers. And with time off, comes a lot of socialising and visiting entertainment areas.

‘The City appeals to everyone to please abide by the Covid-19 regulations, in terms of protocols for gatherings. And let’s not forget the basic health and safety protocols. Our staff report reasonable adherence to the wearing of masks, although there is still some work to be done on the correct wearing of masks, but social distancing remains a challenge in some areas,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

In the last week, Environmental Health Practitioners have completed 1 023 site inspections, of which 947 were found to be compliant. A total of 38 compliance directives were issued.

Schools and ECDs were found to have very high levels of compliance, as did restaurants, with only a handful found in breach of the regulations.

There is however some concern about smaller retailers, where just over 80% of those visited in the last week, were found to be compliant.

‘We need to remind the public to keep their distance when queueing outside stores, or at ATMs or any other facility where they need to wait to enter or be served. Businesses are also reminded not to exceed the maximum number of clients allowed on their premises at any given time. It is just more than a year since the start of the pandemic, but the risk remains very real and this is not the time to let our guard down,’ added Councillor Badroodien.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office