Ramaphosa announces stricter regulations ahead of festive season
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a host of further lockdown restrictions as South Africa battles to contain the rise of a second COVID-19 wave.
In an address to the nation on Monday evening, Ramaphosa announced the Garden Route and the Sarah Bartmaan Districts as hotspots.
There is also an adjusted curfew and a full closure of beaches on specific days in KZN and in the Nelson Mandela Bay region.
The curfew has been adjusted to 11pm to 4pm while beaches in KZN will be closed on the 16, 25, 26 of December and 1, 2, 3 January.
Alcohol can only be sold from 10am - 6pm, Monday to Thursday.
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Non-essential establishments like restaurants and pubs must be closed by 10pm.
KZN is among four provinces which are leading the second wave of infections.
“There can no longer be any doubt – that South Africa has entered a second wave of coronavirus infections, Ramaphosa said.
“Given the rate at which new cases have grown over the last two weeks, there is every possibility that if we do not act urgently and if we do not act together, the second wave will be more severe than the first wave,” he said.
These amendments to the lockdown regulations are effective at midnight.
President #Ramaphosa: The sale of alcohol from retail outlets will only be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday. pic.twitter.com/22KLAm9BpK
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) December 14, 2020
Listen to the full speech below:
