Cabinet has received recommendations relating to alert level 3 of South Africa's lockdown.
It says it will make a decision next week after a briefing by ministerial health advisers on the coronavirus pandemic
President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that the risk-adjusted alert level system on the health crisis allows Cabinet to return the country to higher alert levels, or to revise the regulations about the nationwide lockdown if necessary.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize is in the Eastern Cape on Thursday to inspect the readiness and progress made by health institutions.
Thursday's Cabinet statement comes amid intense scrutiny of how the National Covid-19 Command Council functions.
Lawyers have questioned the legitimacy of the body and its far-reaching decisions after it became clear that it was not established according to law or constitutional provision.
In the Eastern Cape, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Buffalo City Metro and the Chris Hani District Municipality were declared as hotspots where the Lockdown level could move back to Level 4 or movement could be severely restricted.
