Mbabane: The government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has announced that alcohol will be banned from 1 July for two months.
After a few weeks of skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases,government has changed tune on alcohol, announcing its ban for two months as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19.
This was announced by the Prime Minister Ambrose Manvulo Dlamini in a press conference held at the cabinet offices on Tuesday afternoon.
This happens hardly seven days after opening the distribution and sale of liquor, which officially started on June 15, 2020 with other businesses as government was gradually easing the lockdown to allow the economy to open.
Dlamini said government over the past few weeks has witnessed an increase in COVID-19 cases. Some of the causes of the increase in cases government blamed it to the increase in number of house parties which were seen as hot spots for COVID-19.
Dlamini has announced the suspension of the wholesaling and distribution of liquor with effect from 1 July as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“The sale of alcohol will be stopped for a period not exceeding two months”, he said.
“Over the past few weeks we have seen an unfortunate surge of positive cases which suggest that we have to review some of the easing measures to avoid overwhelming our health system”.
The PM said the reason that government decided to stop the wholesaling and distribution of liquor seeing that the consumption of alcohol is among the leading causes of the spread of the virus.
Dlamini said government will be monitoring the situation and public will be kept updated.
Alcohol sale and distribution was officially opened again on the June 15, 2020 back with other businesses as means for government to ease the lockdown to gradually open the economy.
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