Thread by @ShabirMadh

@PresidencyZA @HealthZA @SouthAfricanASP Apologies long post -suggest do’s and don’t for resurgence Don’t: 1. Indiscriminately impose further restrictions, except on indoor gatherings. If it has NOT reduced infections in past 3 waves, considering 60%-80% people were infected.

2. Don’t have domestic (or International) travel ban - the virus will disseminate irrespective of this - as has been case in the past.
3. Don’t announce and pretend that people adhere to regulations that are not implementable or enforceable in the local context;

4.Don’t delay and create hurdles to boosting high risk individuals - those above 65 yrs and underlying immune suppression. 5. Don’t try selling the herd immunity concept- it’s not going to materialise and paradoxically undermines vaccine confidence.

PLEASE consider doing the following. 1. Ensure health care facilities are prepared , not only on paper- but actually resourced with staff, PPE and oxygen!. There are 2000 interns and community service doctors waiting for their 2022 placement confirmation. It’s one month away!

2. Do provide booster dose of JJ or Pfizer to ALL adults who received a single dose JJ- it’s needed to increase protection against severe Covid. 3. Do implement vaccine passports for entry into any indoor space where others gather, including places of worship and taxis!

4. Do continue efforts at reaching out to unvaccInated - including through pop up facilities where people likely to gather. 5. Immediately boost high risk groups older than 65 and other immunosuppressive conditions.

6. Do encourage responsible behaviour, to avoid re-imposing alcohol and other restrictions to punish all due to irresponsibility on part of a minority. 7. Do monitor bed availability at regional level to help decide on regional action to avoid overwhelming of faculties .

8. Do learn to live with the virus, and take a holistic view on the direct and indirect effects of the pandemic on livelihoods. 9. Do follow the science and not distort it for political expediency. 10. Do learn from mistakes of the past, and be bold in the next steps.