No handshakes. No hugs. No family gatherings. No jogging. No dog-walking. No leisurely walks around our communities or favourite open spaces.
There’s a lot that’s been put on pause since the Covid-19 pandemic reached our shores early last month. But what hasn’t been is Tabletalk’s commitment to bringing you vital news and information every week – for free and to your homes.
While some readers have questioned the wisdom in us continuing distribution of our papers during this time of physical distancing and extreme caution, we assure you that we have put strict measures in place to ensure that the staff who deliver your community newspaper remain healthy and that vehicles and hands are regularly sanitised.
Media around the country – and the world – have reacted differently to the unprecedented challenges presented to us by the pandemic and the current lockdown. While publishing online only may seem like the solution, many of the communities we serve have limited access to the internet, possibly even more so now that data costs are pushed to the bottom of priority lists as people face severely curtailed incomes as they are not able to work.
As essential services workers, our reporters are on the front lines covering this turning point in history, and we are working tirelessly to ensure that our readers continue to have access to credible news – for free.
With many businesses being closed during lockdown, we will continue our door-to-door delivery and will ensure that papers are available at essential services facilities such as grocery stores and clinics, among others.
And you can rest assured that we are doing so responsibly.
Stay safe, stay healthy – and stay home.
Chantel Erfort is editor of Cape Community Newspapers which publishes this paper and its 14 sister titles.
