SOUTH Africa moves to adjusted level 2 lockdown from Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Sunday night.
This means that the national curfew will start at 11 pm and end at 4 am, while all gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 250 people indoors, as well as 500 people outdoors.
Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used.
Ramaphosa has reiterated that funerals are still restricted to 50 people.
Night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are not allowed.
The sale of alcohol from retail outlets for off-site consumption will be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.
Alcohol sales for on-site consumption will be permitted as per licence conditions up to 10pm. Alcohol consumption remains prohibited in public spaces.
“These measures will be reviewed in two weeks’ time depending on the state of the pandemic. We will also be providing further information on an approach to ‘vaccine passports’, which can be used as evidence of vaccination for various purposes and events,” said Ramaphosa.
The president warned that existing regulations remain in place – including the compulsory wearing of masks, social distancing and a ban on after-funeral gatherings.
“It is a criminal offence not to do so, and the managers of shops and restaurants as well as drivers of taxis and buses have a responsibility to ensure that their customers wear masks, and that the appropriate social distancing measures are in place.”
Over 25% of adult South African have now received one vaccine dose, while over seven million people have been fully vaccinated, Ramaphosa said.
“We are now administering a million doses every four to five days. The government has secured sufficient vaccines to vaccinate the entire adult population, and the supply of vaccines is no longer a constraint. However, we need to do much more.
“While everyone aged 18 years and older is eligible to be vaccinated, we are concentrating our efforts and resources on those over 60 years of age and those with co-morbidities.”
Ramaphosa said that the sooner South Africans are all vaccinated, the sooner government can open up sports venues to spectators and the reopening of tourism.
A total of 35,965 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, with 3,961 new cases, which represents an 11% positivity rate, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Sunday.
A further 126 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported, taking total fatalities to 84,877 to date.
