Ramaphosa: Peak of second COVID-19 wave passed, regulations relaxed
Updated | By Newswatch
South Africa will move to a new adjusted, lockdown level
three as of midnight, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed in an address to the
nation on Monday evening.
A relaxation of regulations comes into effect tomorrow, with the ban on booze and access to beaches lifted while the curfew has been adjusted to 11pm to 4am.
Faith based gatherings are also allowed under the new alert level.
With the rate of new coronavirus infections dropping across the country, Ramaphosa who met with the National Coronavirus Command Council earlier in the day, said it was necessary to relax regulations in order to bolster South Africa’s battered economy.
“The average rate of new infections has been steadily coming down over the last three weeks, indicating that we have now passed the peak of the second wave,” Ramaphosa said.
“In the past seven days, the daily average of new infections was around 5,500, compared to just over 10,000 infections in the previous seven days.”
“At the peak of the second wave, we recorded over 2,300 hospital admissions in a day. This had fallen to 295 hospital admissions by the 29th of January.”
With South Africa’s first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arriving in the country on Monday afternoon, Ramaphosa spoke with a sense of caution and optimism.
One million doses of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccines will be rolled out soon while 500 000 more jabs will arrive later this month.
“It is in the best interests of all that as many of us receive the vaccine as possible,” Ramaphosa said.
“But I want to be clear. Nobody will be forced to take this vaccine. Nobody will be forbidden from travelling, from enrolling at school, or from taking part in any public activity if they have not been vaccinated.”
“Nobody will be given this vaccine against their will, nor will the vaccine be administered in secret. Any rumours to this effect are both false and dangerous.”
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