AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
BOUYED by lower infection rates, impressive vaccination levels – with over 7-million South African inoculated – the country’s president has eased COVID-19 restrictions, allowing for the sale of alcohol during weekdays, and bigger crowds at gatherings.
In a special address to the nation, Ramaphosa said SA will move from Lockdown Level 3 to 2. He also made an impassioned plea to South Africans to get vaccinated.
In terms of the relaxed restrictions, the following will apply:
- Hours of curfew will be 11pm and 4am.
- Restaurants, bars and gyms will have to close by 10pm.
- All gatherings will now be limited to 250 indoors and 500 people outdoors.
- Sale of alcohol will be permitted from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.
- No onsite alcohol consumption at licensed establishments will be allowed after 10pm.
Ramaphosa stressed that the following restrictions remain in place.
– Gatherings at funerals remain restricted to no more than 50 people.
– Funeral services remain restricted to two hours. No night vigils permitted.
- “After tears” gatherings after funerals remain prohibited.
- Wearing a mask outdoors is mandatory.
- Health protocols such as 1.5m social distancing remain in place.
The SA President said: “We are able to ease these restrictions thanks to the efforts of all South Africans to adhere to the regulations and basic health measures. We are particularly thankful for those sectors of society that have had to endure restrictions on their activities for some time.
“I speak here of religious communities of all faiths, which have been unable to worship and minister to the needs of their congregants as they normally would. I speak of the artists, promoters, performers and cultural workers who have had to find other outlets for their work and who have endured great difficulties. I speak of the owners of restaurants, bars, taverns, hotels, conference venues and others in the hospitality sector that have seen a massive decline in their business.
“We recognise these hardships and will continue to find ways, within our means, of supporting these sectors and taking steps to enable their recovery. The vaccination drive offers an opportunity to open up many of the venues that have remained closed, and we are continuing to work with all partners to find the safest and quickest way to do this.
“It needs to be emphasised that the third wave is not yet over, and it is only through our actions – individually and collectively – that we will be able to reduce the number of new infections still further. Once we have done that, our priority must be to prevent a resurgence of infections.”
Ramaphosa said the government will provide more information on vaccine passports that fully vaccinated people can use to gain access to venues or for travel.
