PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the country’s Level 4 lockdown for another 14 days, saying the last two weeks of restrictions were necessary to curb the ‘Third Wave’ of infections in South Africa which has been caused by the Delta variant of COVID-19.
While he eased some restrictions, Ramaphosa maintained a ban on gatherings and a prohibition on the sale of alcohol.
The prohibition of the sale of alcohol comes a week after the South African Breweries (SAB) launched a court bid to challenge the country’s alcohol ban on administrative law grounds.
The Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) is supporting the court challenge, saying the ban on alcohol has hammered the industry and affected jobs.
In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, Ramaphosa said alcohol abuse was associated with gatherings and non-adherence to public health regulations.
“We know that restrictions on alcohol sales reduce the number of admissions at hospitals and emergency rooms with alcohol-related trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents and interpersonal violence,” said Ramaphosa.
“Reducing alcohol harm frees up much-needed capacity in our health facilities to deal with COVID-19 cases. At the same time, we know and recognise the vital contribution of the alcohol industry to our economy.”
The country, the worst-hit on the African continent in terms of recorded cases and deaths, is in the grip of a third wave of infections driven by the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant.
“Our health system countrywide remains under pressure,” said
“By next week, daily hospital admissions across the country are likely to reach the levels observed during the peak of the first two waves. COVID-19 related deaths in hospitals are also increasing, and have surpassed those observed at the peak of the first wave.”
Early this month South Africa recorded a new record of over 26,000 daily cases, stretching hospitals to breaking point.
Ramaphosa moved the country to the fourth level of a five-tier restriction scale in late June as infections climbed, promising to review the restrictions after two weeks.
While Gauteng is still the epicentre of these infections, Ramaphosa said that cases are now surging in other provinces with the healthcare sector increasingly under strain. Infections are rapidly increasing in the Western Cape, Limpopo, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, he said.
South Africa reported 16,302 new cases on Sunday, taking the total number of active reported cases to 208,709.
Up to 53,653 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours which represents a 30.4% positivity rate. A further 151 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported, taking total fatalities to 64,289 to date.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has decided to extend the Covid-19 TERS scheme to businesses that have been impacted by the adjusted level 4 lockdown.
The full details of the businesses and sectors that qualify will be published in a gazette shortly, Ramaphosa said.
The president said that all business permits and licences will also remain valid until 31 December 2022.
The following restrictions will remain in place:
- The evening curfew remains in place from 21h00 – 04h00, and only those with permission to do so may leave their homes during this time;
- All social, religious, and political gatherings remain prohibited;
- Schools will remain closed until 26 July;
- The sale of alcohol remains prohibited.
- Inside Politics
