Covid-19 protocols in South Africa, and most international locations across the globe, had been stringent and ongoing, on some level, on yarn of the launch up of the pandemic in early 2020. On 23 December, a circular became as soon as issued by Director-Customary Dr SSS Buthelezi advising that, amongst assorted revisions in appreciate of Covid-19 protocols, contact tracing and quarantining for contacts of confirmed cases of Covid -19 (relevant to each vaccinated and unvaccinated contacts) be stopped with on the spot attain. The circular acknowledged that these revisions had been authorised fixed with the -COVID-19 MAC advisories of December 2021. The circular further acknowledged that the “proportion of folks with some immunity from an infection and/or vaccination is high – previous an infection in 60-80% in just a few sero-surveys” and that “containment concepts usually are no longer any longer relevant”, particularly within the context of the Omicron variant. These significant revisions lasted a mere five days, because the Health Division recalled the circular on 28 December. This Open Letter by Gerhard Papenfus, NEASA’s chief govt, echoes the confusion reasonably felt by many South Africans who welcomed the revisions issued a week within the past. Papenfus, who has been vocal in appreciate of Covid-19 connected policies, states: “It’s apparent that the 23 December 2021 circular, which became as soon as fixed with scientific files supplied by the Covid-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee, triggered a swish quantity of dissent and division for your Division and in govt. It will handiest be assumed that the amended protocols failed to swimsuit the agenda of positive folks and groups with vested interests.” He moreover requests clarity and copies of all “inquiries and feedback” which resulted within the revised policy adjustments being put on defend. – Nadya Swart
Open letter
Dr Mathume Joseph ‘Joe’ Phaahla Minister of Health
Dear Minister
Revision of contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols
On 23 December 2021, the Director Customary of Health issued honest correct revised arrangements concerning contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols in appreciate of the Covid-19 ‘pandemic’.
On 28 December 2021, the Health Ministry issued a media launch by which they acknowledged that the Division, following the 23 December 2021 circular, became as soon as “inundated with media, stakeholders and public inquiries and feedback”, and that, consequently, the revised policy adjustments are put on defend, “fixed with the principles of transparency and openness, … while taking all further feedback and inputs into consideration”.
Minister, it is miles unparalleled that an announcement of the personality of the 23 December 2021 conversation, is “put on defend” five days later, and that as a results of “media, stakeholders and public inquiries and feedback”. Right here’s merely unparalleled and is testimony of some quite homely trends for your Division.
It’s apparent that the 23 December 2021 circular, which became as soon as fixed with scientific files supplied by the Covid-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee, triggered a swish quantity of dissent and division for your Division and in govt. It will handiest be assumed that the amended protocols failed to swimsuit the agenda of positive folks and groups with vested interests.
The media launch further states that the revised policy adjustments, as per the 23 December 2021 circular, is put on defend “while taking all further feedback and inputs into consideration”.
It’s standard files that positive “stakeholders” take dangle of pleasure in keeping the most up-to-date protocols in draw. It’s therefore that that it is doubtless you’ll well perhaps perhaps remark of to believe this form of stakeholder (one with vested interests) would present enter or comment favouring the pre-23 December 2021 dispensation which, fixed with scientific evidence, offers no attend in managing the ‘pandemic’, but handiest serves to restrict particular particular person freedom and to cripple the financial system even further.
In gentle of this, Minister, and for the sake of “transparency and openness”, we remark the next:
- clarity as as to whether or no longer the 28 December 2021 media launch constitutes an invite for comment and enter concerning this matter from occasions;
- if that is the case, what are the phrases of reference, and
- copies of all “inquiries and feedback”, alongside with scientific evidence, submitted to your Division and which resulted within the “striking” of the 23 December 2021 directive “on ice”.
We see forward to your mercurial reply.
Regards
G.C. Papenfus, Chief Govt
Learn Also:
- Slash Hudson of PANDA on most up-to-date occasions indicating that, no longer without delay, the tide within the encourage of the official Covid-19 account can also very well be turning
- MAILBOX: Disband the NCCC – NEASA helps the IRR’s name
- Needed vaccination: Gore is irascible – NEASA
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