President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that a number of South Africa’s lockdown regulations will be relaxed as the country moves to a level 2 lockdown from midnight on Monday (17 August).
In a national address, the president said that the country is making progress in its fight against the coronavirus.
The country is now recording an average of 3,000 daily cases from about 12,000 per day about a month ago. The country’s reported recovery rate has also increased to over 80%. The cumulative number of cases in the country now stands at 583,653.
“All indications are that South Africa has reached the peak and moved beyond the infection point of the curve.”
Ramaphosa added that earlier models had to be revised downward due to the country better than expected response. “It is now clear that had we not acted as swiftly and decisively as we did – and had we not taken the threat as seriously as we did – far more lives would have been lost.
As the cases decrease, Ramaphosa said that the country will move to lockdown level 2 on Monday and that restrictions will be eased in the following areas:
- All restrictions on inter-provincial travel will be lifted;
- Accommodation facilities will be permitted, in line with approved protocols;
- Restaurants, bars and taverns will be permitted to operate subject to regulations;
- Restrictions on the sale of tobacco will be lifted;
- Prohibition on the sale of alcohol will be lifted subject to restrictions. On-site consumption will be permitted until 22h00, while offsite consumption will be allowed from Monday to Thursday between 09h00 – 22h00.
- Restrictions on family and social visits will be lifted, but caution is urged;
- Gyms and fitness centres can open, with approved protocols in place;
- The curfew will remain in place from 22h00 – 04h00;
- Gatherings of more than 50 people are still prohibited, as are sports events with spectators;
- International travel is still prohibited outside of the existing regulations.
The easing in restrictions come nearly five months after the country first moved into a lockdown.
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Source – BusinessTech