President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country will move to alert level 2 of the lockdown with effect from midnight on Monday 17 August.
Ramaphosa was addressing the nation on Saturday evening on the country’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19.
“Guided by the advice of our health experts and after consultation with provincial and local government, Cabinet has decided to place the entire country on alert level 2, with effect from midnight on Monday, the 17th of August 2020.”
The address follows a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council on Thursday and meetings on Saturday between the president’s coordinating council and cabinet.
“Alert level 2 in terms of our risk-adjusted strategy in dealing with the pandemic means that there is moderate Covid-19 spread of the virus with a relatively high health system readiness,” explains Ramaphosa.
Regulation changes
The move to alert level 2 will see a number of restrictions being lifted to further open the economy.
“All restriction on interprovincial travel will be lifted. Accommodations, hospitality venues and tours will be permitted accordion to approved protocols to ensure social distancing.
“Restaurants, bars and taverns will be permitted to operate according to approved protocols as to times of operation and numbers of people. Restrictions on the sale e of tobacco will be lifted.”
He says liquor outlets will be allowed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption from Monday to Thursday during the hours of 9:00 to 17:00.
Covid-19 numbers
The country has been seeing a decline in daily infections.
“Over the last three weeks, the number of confirms cases has dropped from a peak over 12 000 a day to an average of around 5000 a day.”
He says the country is seeing a small number of people being infected with the virus in places where the peak has passed.
“Fewer people are presenting with symptoms at our health facilities. We are also finding that fewer people are requiring admission in our hospitals and the demand for Coronavirus test has dropped.”
Meanwhile, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has extended the national state of disaster from 15 August 2020 to 15 September 2020.
On Thursday, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize welcomed a team of 16 from the 43 expected World Health Organisation’s (WHO) experts to assist the nation in the combat against the Covid-19 pandemic.
This as the country remains the epicentre of Covid-19 on the continent and ranks fifth globally in terms of infections.
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