GCIS
South Africa will move to Alert Level 2 from midnight on Monday following a decision by Cabinet.
Addressing the nation on Saturday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the decision was made “amid signs of hope” that the country was “making progress in the fight against Covid19 on a number of fronts.”
He said the move to Level 2 means the removal of nearly all of the restrictions on the resumption of economic activity, with the ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products, has been lifted but with restrictions.
“All restrictions on inter-provincial travel will be lifted. Accommodation, hospitality venues, and tours will be permitted according to approved protocols to ensure social distancing,” Ramaphosa announced.
“Restaurants, bars, and taverns will be permitted to operate according to approved protocols as to times of operation and numbers of people. Restrictions on the sale of tobacco will be lifted.”
The President said that the suspension of the sale of alcohol will be lifted subject to certain restrictions.
“Alcohol will be permitted for on-site consumption in licensed establishments only up until 10 pm. Liquor outlets will be allowed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption from Monday to Thursday during the hours of 9 am to 5 pm only,” he said.
Restrictions on family and social visits will also be lifted, although everyone is urged to exercise extreme caution and undertake such visits only if necessary.
President Ramaphosa’s address came amid signs that the number of new confirmed cases had dropped from a peak of over 12 000 a day to an average over the past week of around 5 000 a day.
“The recovery rate from coronavirus has risen from 48% at the time of my last address and now stands at 80%”, but he said the cumulative number of cases remained high at 583 653.
Ramaphosa said the number of active cases was declining every day, and now stands at around 105,000, with fewer people are presenting with symptoms at health facilities and fewer requiring hospitalization.
However, the President lamented the deaths of 11,667 from COVID-19 saying the “deaths of so many people in such a short space of time due to a virus such as this is a human tragedy of proportions that we would not have expected to befall our nation at a time of peace and democracy.”
