WARNING AGAINST VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATIONS

 MBABANE – The month of love, which is February, will be celebrated differently this year.

Many people refer to February as the month of love as February 14 is Valentine’s Day, where couples, in particular, go to great lengths to show their love for their partners.

However, this year, couples wishing to celebrate Valentine’s Day outdoors should think again.

Outdoors

The Ministry of Health and the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) have warned couples who wish to enjoy their Valentine’s Day outdoors to desist from doing so. Valentine’s Day is one of the most anticipated days of the year, where lovers, friends and families wish to celebrate their love with gestures, including presents and candle lit dinners.

The emergence of COVID-19 will, this year, change the culture of the day, as it has with other celebratory days in the past 10 months in the country. 

To observe social distancing, as means to control the spread of the virus, people have been urged not to move around unnecessarily and this also includes celebration of the lovers’ day.

Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said the Ministry of Health discouraged unnecessary movements, on regular days and on Valentine’s Day as well. Dr Magagula, said as much as retail outlets, including restaurants, opened until 6pm, it did not mean that people should flock them (restaurants) before closing time. 

“We are well aware that people would actually be tempted to celebrate during the day, but they should avoid doing so.

“We are living in unprecedented times and people should play their part in containing the spread of the virus. This means that they should at least celebrate the day indoors,” said Dr Magagula.

He said Valentine’s Day dinners were off the table, because people were expected to be indoors by 8pm.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said police officers would be on the lookout for venues that would breach the current COVID-19 regulations, which stipulated that retail outlets should be closed by 6pm.

“We will be vigilant on the day like we are vigilant now, as long as ‘Operation Bopha’ stands,” said Vilakati.

She warned people, including couples, who would be on the road to desist from attempting to do so after 8pm.

Couples said they felt indifferent about the warning, saying it was anticipated because of the trying times that the nation was faced with.

One Wandile Dlamini, who said he was accustomed to celebrating Valentine’s Day with his partner every year, said the warning was a necessary evil. “The spike in COVID-19 deaths in the country is enough to tone down the excitement of Valentine’s Day. Government is making these decisions to protect us and not to sabotage our plans. This warning is fair to us,” said Dlamini.

Another, Tebenguni Simelane, said observing COVID-19 regulations was more fundamental than celebrating Valentine’s Day.

“There will be many more Valentine’s Days in the future. People should stay indoors to ensure they see more of these celebratory days,” she said.

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