Tonight President Ramaphosa announced some stricter regulations over the Easter weekend, in the framework of declining death rates and hospitalisations, and stabilizing numbers of new cases. Banning retail alcohol sales over the weekend is the major restriction affecting the Easter weekend.

The President announced that South Africans who are eligible should register for vaccination. All persons who are vaccinated will receive a vaccination passport, he announced. It is planned to vaccinate 40 million South Africans.

Good news for South Africans is that minimal changes have been made to the current Level 1 regulations over the Easter weekend :

1.  The Curfew times remain the same
2.  All recreational facilities such as beaches and parks remain open, subject to health protocols
3.  Funerals are allowed, limited to 100 persons attending, and with a maximum time limit of two hours
4. Alcohol sales in restaurants continue to be allowed
5. Alcohol sales in retail outlets are prohibited from Good Friday to Family Day on Easter Monday.
6. Inter-provincial travel is allowed, but not encouraged

Not formulated as a regulation but recommended is that funeral attendees should stay where they normally live when attending a funeral, and not sleep over. The President also urged the nation to avoid attending any events with crowds of attendees, the limit of attendance being 250 persons indoors and 500 outdoors.

Over the next two weeks the Covid statistics will be monitored, the President concluded, to guide future decision-making.

 

The Corona Virus Lockdown (Level 5), announced by our President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier to commence on 27 March and to continue until 16 April, subsequently extended to 30 April, lowered to Level 4 from 1 May, lowered to Level 3 from 1 June, lowered to Level 2 from 18 August, lowered to Level 1 from 21 September, and moved back to Adjusted Level 3 from 29 December,  extended to 15 February on 11 January, extended but relaxed on 1 February, and relaxed back to Level 1 on 1 March 2021, is an unprecedented event in my lifetime. I am posting my daily Facebook post to journal this Corona Lockdown Journey, perhaps to serve as material for a future Book.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide