Ramaphosa returns SA to level 3 amid Covid-19 surge
With the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country will be move to level 3 of the lockdown.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Tuesday night, following consultations with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the President's Coordinating Council and Cabinet.
Ramaphosa said Covid positive tests results have been climbing in Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
"Over the last seven days, we have recorded an average of 7,500 daily infections. Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 over the last 14 days are 59 per cent higher than the preceding 14 days.
"The average number of people who die from COVID-19 each day has increased by 48 per cent from 535 two weeks ago to 791 in the past seven days. With the exception of Northern Cape, all provinces are experiencing rising infections," Ramaphosa said.
He said because of the surge in infections, goverment has decided to up scale-up the lockdown level.
The curfew will now be from 10pm to 4am.
"Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 9pm to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew."
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If you want to purchase your favourite tipple at a retail outlet, you'll need to do so between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday, but not on holidays.
"Alcohol sales for on-site consumption will be permitted as per licence conditions up to 9pm. Alcohol consumption in all public spaces, such as beaches and parks, is strictly forbidden," said Ramaphosa.
Gatherings are now capped at 50 people indoors and 100 for outdoors, with the maximum capacity for funerals and cremations being 50.
"Night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and 'after-tears' gatherings are not allowed.
"Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used. This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places," he said.
On the country's vaccination "set backs", Ramaphosa assures that the roll out programme will pick in over the following weeks.
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"The problems with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have now been resolved. As a result of these problems, 2 million doses that had already been produced are unusable.
"The Aspen plant in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape is now able to go ahead and produce new doses. The company has committed to significantly ramp up production and begin supplying the country within the next few days.”
He said more vaccines doses are on their way.
"We have to date received nearly 2.4 million Pfizer vaccine doses. By the end of June, we expect to have received a total of 3.1 million Pfizer doses. We have received an indication from Johnson & Johnson that it expects to deliver around 2 million vaccines to South Africa by the end of the month."
