Protect older people now, or children in the future?
Ramaphosa faces difficult choices as he mulls whether to extend the national lockdown to save lives or lift it to save the economy
Sometime in the next few days President Cyril Ramaphosa will come to an agonising decision whether to extend the Covid-19 lockdown or lift it. Agonising, because in a way it is a choice between protecting those most vulnerable against the virus — the elderly — and protecting the futures of those most vulnerable to the severe economic conditions resulting from the lockdown — children.
If the decision were simply a matter of child deaths against adult deaths, choosing to protect the young would be relatively uncomplicated. Beyond the platitudes extolling the sanctity of all life, we all know that the life of a child is more valuable. But it is not that simple...
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