Charles Molele
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday evening that South Africa would start relaxing its severe lockdown regulations in a desperate attempt to rescue the country’s battered economy, expected to contract by 6.1% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a televised address, Ramaphosa said the lockdown restrictions would be loosened slightly to allow people to earn a living and for companies to be able to produce, trade, generate revenue and keep their employees in employment.
“We have accordingly decided that beyond Thursday 30 April, we should begin a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity,” said Ramaphosa.
“We will implement a risk adjusted strategy through which we take a deliberate and cautious approach to the easing of current lockdown restrictions. We have decided on this approach because there is still much that is unknown about the rate and manner of the spread of the virus within our population.”
Ramaphosa, however, warned that life cannot return to full normality because the coronavirus can easily spread rapidly and claim many lives.
He said as from May 1, the country will be on Level 4 restrictions, which means that some activity can be allowed to resume, subject to extreme precautions required to limit community transmission and outbreaks.
“The National Coronavirus Command Council met earlier today and determined that the national coronavirus alert level will be lowered from level 5 to level 4 with effect from Friday the 1st of May,: said Ramaphosa.
“This means that some activity will be allowed to resume subject to extreme precautions to limit community transmission and outbreaks. Some businesses will be allowed to resume operations under specific conditions. Every business will have to adhere to detailed health and safety protocols to protect their employees, and workplace plans will be put in place to enable disease surveillance and prevent the spread of infection.”
Ramaphosa said businesses would be encouraged to adopt a work-from-home strategy where possible and that all staff who can work remotely must be allowed to do so.
“When the country moves to level 4 on 1 May, Our borders will remain closed to international travel, except for the repatriation of South African nationals and foreign citizens,” said Ramaphosa.
“No travel will be allowed between provinces, except for the transportation of goods and exceptional circumstances such as funerals.”
He said public transport will continue to operate, with limitations on the number of passengers and stringent hygiene requirements, including that all passengers must wear a face mask.
He encouraged the public to continue to stay at home, particularly the elderly citizens.
People can exercise under strict public health conditions, he said.
“All gatherings, apart from funerals and for work, will remain prohibited. The sale of cigarettes will be permitted. The range of goods that may be sold will be extended to incorporate certain additional categories. These will be detailed by the relevant Ministers,” said Ramaphosa.
“It is important to note that several restrictions will remain in place regardless of the level of alert for as long as the risk of transmission is present. Bars and shebeens will remain closed. Conference and convention centres, entertainment venues, cinemas, theatres, and concerts will remain closed. Concerts, sporting events, and religious, cultural and social gatherings will not be allowed until it is deemed safe for them to continue.”
As of Thursday evening, 75 South Africans lost their lives to the coronavirus.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases currently stands at 3 953.
