Excellent news announced by the surprise and very short Speech by President Cyril Ramaphosa this evening is that the Government is moving the country to Level 1 from tonight, marking the 11-month anniversary of Lockdown in our country.

President Ramaphosa announced that the move to Level 1 pushes the Curfew to midnight, until 4h00. Restaurant closing times were not addressed, possibly moving to 23h00. In the Gazette, the closing time of restaurants is confirmed as 23h00. 

The President also announced the following loosening of restrictions:

#. Alcohol may be sold in the hours that the business is licensed for, but may not be sold during Curfew hours

#. Gatherings may have a maximum of 100 persons indoors and 250 outdoors

 

The following restrictions remain in place:

#.  Nightclubs remain closed

#   Not wearing a mask remains a criminal offence.

#. Night vigils for funerals are still forbidden.

 

The President summarised the steady decline in Covid cases and deaths in the last eight weeks, making the move back to Level 1 possible.

The President also spoke about the more than 60000 vaccinations administered to health workers in the past ten days, and that the pace would increase as the number of vaccination sites are increased from 17 to 49. Vaccination supplies will come from Johnson & Johnson, as well as from Pfizer, with older persons, essential workers, and persons with co-morbidities likely to be vaccinated from late April onwards.

The President’s Speech was unusually short. However, the gazetted Level 1 regulations were published soon after the Speech, and confirm the following:

1.  Restaurants, cinemas, theatres, casinos, museums, galleries, public swimming pools, beaches, public parks, game parks, botanical gardens, aquariums, gyms, auction venues, professional sport venues, and venues hosting religious, social, political, and cultural gatherings may remain open until 23h00.
2. Funeral attendance is limited to 100 persons, or 50 % of the capacity. No night vigils or after-funeral gatherings are allowed.
3. Professional and non-professional sporting activities are permitted. No spectators are permitted to attend sport matches.
4. No person may be evicted from their residence.
5. The existing 20 land borders which were already opened will be joined by the remaining 33 land border posts in reopening.
6. Cruise liners are not permitted to dock.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: 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