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<\/a>Earlier this evening President Ramaphosa announced in a \u2018family gathering\u2019 that our country\u2019s Lockdown status will change to Level 2 Adjusted as of midnight tonight.<\/p>\nThe major change of this Level 2 Adjusted Lockdown will be that the Curfew starting time changes to 23h00, and therefore that Restaurants have to close at 22h00. Restaurants and other venues may only seat up 100 diners inside, and 250 persons outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
President Ramaphosa indicated that the number of new Corona Virus cases have increased to 3745 cases per day on average in the past week. He mentioned North West and Gauteng province as two of four provinces which have reached the Third Wave of the Pandemic already, and therefore preventative action has to be taken immediately. He blamed this on our population\u2019s complacency and socializing.<\/p>\n
Funeral numbers remain restricted at 100 persons, and no socializing may be held before and after.<\/p>\n
South Africans were requested to reduce their number of contacts, to reduce participating in gatherings, and to observe all health protocols.<\/p>\n
The President spoke at length about our country\u2019s vaccination programme. The Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been held up due to an American investigation. Only one vaccination is required for this brand. Pfizer will be used for persons 60 years and older so long, requiring two vaccinations 42 days apart.<\/p>\n
The President’s Speech follows:<\/p>\n
\u2018STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ON PROGRESS IN THE NATIONAL EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC<\/i><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n30 MAY 2021<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nFellow South Africans,<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIt has been some time since we last held a family meeting.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWhen I last spoke to you, exactly two months ago, South Africa was recovering from a deadly second wave of coronavirus infections.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThen, the number of new daily infections had stabilised at a relatively low level, and we had placed the country on Coronavirus Alert Level 1.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWhile we continued to urge caution, the low levels of transmission allowed us to ease restrictions on the size of gatherings.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nBut now, after several months of low transmission, the number of infections has begun to rise sharply in several parts of the country.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWe have seen a sustained increase over the last four weeks.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nOver the last seven days, we have seen an average of 3,745 daily new infections.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThis is an increase of 31 per cent on the previous week, and an increase of 66 per cent on the week before that.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThe proportion of COVID-19 tests that are positive has more than doubled in the last month from around 4 per cent to more than 11 per cent, even as we have increased testing across the country.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWe are advised that a positivity rate of over 5 per cent is a cause for concern.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThe provinces of Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Gauteng have reached the threshold of a third wave of infections.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIt may only be a matter of time before the country as a whole will have entered a third wave.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nAccording to our health experts, the recent surge in new infections is due to the increasing number of social gatherings where people are not observing essential health protocols.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThese protocols include the wearing of masks, social distancing, ensuring adequate ventilation and limits on the number of people who attend gatherings.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nOther sites of increased transmission are funerals and so-called \u2018after tears\u2019 parties, as well as camps and sporting activities at schools.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nBecause rates of infection have been low for some time, and because we are all suffering from pandemic fatigue, we have tended to become complacent.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWe have not been as vigilant about wearing our masks all the time, we have not been avoiding crowded places, and we have been socialising more.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nAs a result, infections are surging again.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n\n
The increase in daily cases is following the same trajectory as it did at the start of the previous two waves.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWe have seen in other countries the tragic consequences of allowing the virus to spread unchecked.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThe Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 has therefore recommended that the country urgently implement further restrictions to limit the increase in infections.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIt bases this recommendation on the sustained increase in new cases in the last 14 days, increased hospital admissions in almost all provinces and an increase in the proportion of COVID tests that are positive.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nFurther restrictions are necessary to ensure that health facilities are not overwhelmed and that lives that could be saved are not lost.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nDelaying the spread of the virus is especially important now to allow as many people as possible to be vaccinated before the third wave reaches its peak.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThese recommendations have been discussed at the National Coronavirus Command Council and, earlier today, with Premiers, mayors and traditional leaders in the President\u2019s Coordinating Council.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nBased on these discussions, Cabinet has therefore decided that the country will be placed on Adjusted Alert Level 2 with effect from tomorrow.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThis means that:<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n– The hours of curfew will start at 11pm and end at 4am.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n– Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 10pm. This is to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n– All gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors.<\/i><\/div>\n\n
Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThis includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nSeveral important measures remain in place.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIt remains mandatory for every person to wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces.<\/i><\/div>\nIt is a criminal offence not to do so.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThe owners and managers of public buildings, centres, shops, restaurants, taxis and buses all have a responsibility to ensure that people on their premises or in their vehicles wear masks, and that the appropriate social distancing measures are in place.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIf you test positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate at home for a period of 10 days from when you first developed symptoms.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIf you have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19, you must also self-quarantine for a period of 10 days following your exposure, even if you do not show any symptoms.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIdentifying and isolating all contacts of a positive case is our best mechanism to prevent the virus from spreading further, and so it is very important that we all obey the rules for isolation and quarantine.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nFunerals remain restricted to no more than 100 people, and, as before, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and \u2018after-tears\u2019 gatherings are not allowed.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWhile the country is headed towards a third wave of infections, we do not yet know how severe this wave will be or for how long it will last.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nAccording to the scientists that advise government, the severity of this third wave will largely be determined by the amount of contact each of us has with other people.<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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This means that each of us needs to think about all the people we come into contact with each day and do everything we can to limit those contacts.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nSometimes it is unavoidable to be in contact with other people, such as at work or when shopping or in public transport.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIn such cases, it is important that we strictly observe all the health protocols by wearing a mask, keeping our distance from others and ensuring proper ventilation.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nBut wherever possible, we should cut down on our contacts during this time.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThat may mean postponing social engagements, avoiding public spaces and not travelling unless absolutely necessary.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nGatherings are the greatest sources of transmission, whether its weddings, funerals, social parties, religious services, political meetings or simply gatherings of family and friends.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nWe must remember that the virus does not move from place to place by itself; it relies on the movement of people.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThe less we travel, the less the virus is spread.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIt is especially important to avoid indoor spaces, as the coronavirus is spread through the air when a person speaks, coughs or sneezes.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIf you need to meet someone, including a member of your family, it is safer to do so outside in a well-ventilated space.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThose who are at particular risk, including the elderly and those with comorbidities, should exercise caution and should limit their contacts as much as possible.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nIf each of us makes this effort now, we will help to flatten the curve of infections.<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We will reduce the pressure on our hospitals, and, in doing so, we will save many lives.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nAs we continue to focus on reducing transmission of the virus through our behaviour, we have embarked on the biggest mass vaccination programme in our country\u2019s history.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nTwo weeks ago, we started the second phase of the vaccination programme, targeting the balance of our health workers who had not yet been vaccinated during the first phase and all those in the country who are over 60 years of age.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThis follows the first phase of the programme, in which nearly 480,000 health workers were vaccinated.<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nMore than 67 per cent of public health workers have been vaccinated<\/i><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\nThese health workers received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires a single dose.<\/i><\/div>\n
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<\/a>Earlier this evening President Ramaphosa announced in a \u2018family gathering\u2019 that our country\u2019s Lockdown status will change to Level 2 Adjusted as of midnight tonight.<\/p>\n