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Today is day 365 of South Africa’s lockdown.
Congrats, you’ve survived a full year, although at least 52 535 people were not as fortunate.
With a third wave now imminent, according to experts, and our vaccine rollout plan still in the healthcare worker phase, there is a great deal of worry that the Easter period will lead to super-spreader events and cluster outbreaks.
Because of this, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has advised the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) to move the country to alert level 2.
Keeping up with what the various alert levels mean, in terms of restrictions and regulations, is no mean feat, so let’s jog your memory with the help of TimesLIVE.
Importantly, all of the below is subject to change, as alert levels have been tweaked throughout the pandemic:
- Movement of people: Every person would be confined to his or her place of residence from 10pm until 4am, except where a person has been granted a permit.
- Mandatory protocols when in a public place: A person may not be allowed to be in a public place, use any form of public transport or enter a public building, place or premises, without wearing a face mask.
- Attendance of funerals: Attendance at a funeral would be limited to 50 people and will not be regarded as a prohibited gathering.
- Gatherings: All gatherings would be prohibited except faith-based gatherings, funerals, workplace for work purposes, conferences and meetings, cinemas, theatres, concerts and live performances. These would all be limited to 52 or less people, depending on the size of the place.
There would also be restrictions on public transport, with buses and taxis limited to 70% of licenced capacity for long-distance travel.
Yes, yes, but what about booze sales?
Patience, please.
- Sale or transportation of liquor: Sale of liquor by licensed premises for off-consumption would be permitted from 9am to 5pm, from Mondays to Thursdays, excluding Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Licensed premises for on-site consumption would be permitted, subject to strict adherence to the curfew.
There has already been pushback on this front from groups representing much of South Africa’s liquor trade, who have implored government not to curtail the sale of alcohol.
Instead, reports Business Insider SA, the groups say the focus should be on curfew and travel restriction:
…their recommendations to Nedlac [National Economic Development and Labour Council] include going back to a curfew that starts at 23:00 instead of the current midnight, and limiting gatherings to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
The groups argue that restrictions on liquor sales should only be implemented when “hospital capacity becomes severely stretched”.
Head of digital communications in the presidency, Athi Geleba, has also dismissed a message doing the rounds on social media, claiming that there will be a 21-day booze ban:
FAKE NEWS ALERT
— ATHI GELEBA
(@AthiGeleba) March 24, 2021
The countdown until the fake WhatsApp voicenotes begins.
Under alert level 2 restrictions, international travel for leisure purposes is also off the table, as is passenger ship travel for international leisure purposes.
International borders could also be shut, except for ports designated for the transportation of fuel, cargo, goods, and emergencies.
Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has confirmed that President Ramaphosa will make an announcement soon on what measures will be implemented to curb a further spread.
It seems like a matter of when, not if, there is an adjustment to the alert level.
[sources:timeslive&businsidersa]
