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New harsh rules: SA bans booze, public gatherings

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER

TWELVE days after introducing stricter anti-COVID-19 measures, South Africa has made them even tougher, banning the sale of alcohol, public gatherings and keeping pupils and university students from contact classes.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a special address to the nation – “a family meeting” – said the country would move into Lockdown Level Four and unveiled tougher rules to help stem the increasing number of infections, hospitalisations and deaths brought on by the third wave.

These are the measures announced by Ramaphosa and will be in force until July 11:

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  • All gatherings – political, cultural and religious – are prohibited
  • Off and on-site sales of alcohol prohibited for 14 days. 
  • Restaurants can only sell food for takeaways and deliveries.
  • Closure of schools has been brought forward from Wednesday, June 30.
  • Funerals can be attended by no more than 50 people.
  • Longer curfew hours: From 9pm to 4am.
  • Leisure travelling to and from Gauteng is not allowed.
  • Beaches and public parks will remain open but no gatherings will be permitted.
  • Visits to old age homes and care facilities will be restricted.
  • Contact classes at tertiary institutions will end on June 30.
  • Gyms and fitness centres to remain closed until July 11.
  • Night clubs and casinos to be closed for 14 days.
  • Theatres, cinemas, museums, libraries are closed.
  • Flea markets are prohibited.
  • Most businesses will be allowed to continue as long as they observe COVID-19 protocols.
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Ramaphosa said stricter measures were necessary and were SA’s best chance of defeating COVID-19.

The President said: “Safeguarding the capacity of our health facilities to cope with rising infections is a priority. In several provinces, our public health facilities are stretched to their limits, and private facilities are also buckling under the strain. Even as our hospitals have made extraordinary efforts to accommodate patients, ICU beds are in short supply. What we are seeing is that the existing containment measures in place are not enough to cope with the speed and scale of new infections.

“In considering what new measures we have to take we have drawn on international best practice and scientific data from studies across the world. Our priority is to break the chain of transmission by reducing person-to-person contact and thereby help to flatten the curve. Our focus is on limiting social contacts while preserving the economy. I want to emphasise that it remains mandatory for every person to wear a face mask that always covers their nose & mouth when in public spaces. It is a criminal offence not to do so.

“The owners and managers of public buildings, centres, shops, restaurants, taxis and buses all have a responsibility to ensure that people on their premises or in their vehicles wear masks. Government will also be putting in place measures to reduce physical attendance of its employees at workplaces while limiting the disruption of government activities and services.  All employers must allow their staff to work from home wherever possible, and should postpone all non-essential travel and workplace gatherings.”

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He said all other anti-COVID-19 protocols remain in place. This includes:

  • Compulsory wearing of face masks outdoors.
  • Social distancing.
  • After funeral gatherings  – “so-called After Tears parties” – remain prohibited.

Ramaphosa said the measures were necessary because of the spread of the new Delta variant which was first discovered in India and has been detected in 85  countries.

“The Delta variant spread like wildfire in India in an alarming manner. The Delta variant has now been detected in five of our provinces, namely the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. The evidence we have is that the Delta variant is rapidly displacing the Beta variant, which has been dominant in our country until now.

“We are concerned about the rapid spread of this variant. Firstly, because it is more transmissible than previously circulating viruses, meaning it is easier to catch through person-to-person contact. Secondly, because it is more contagious, it can infect far more people. As with the previous variants, you can pass it on without even knowing you have it.  Thirdly, there is now emerging scientific evidence that people previously infected with the Beta variant do not have full protection against the Delta variant, and may get re-infected. Fourthly, because it is much more contagious, the measures we have so far adopted to contain the spread of the virus may no longer be sufficient to reduce transmission.”

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By The African Mirror

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