President Ramaphosa Announces New Lockdown Restrictions

Written by Mfundo on 15 December, 2020

By: Pamella Majola

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will not enforce a hard COVID-19 lockdown unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

During his national address yesterday evening, he announced several new restrictions over the festive season, including a curfew from 11 pm to 4 am, which will also apply on Christmas eve and new year’s eve.

Ramaphosa says the country recorded over 4,400 new cases and the daily average of COVID-19 deaths has increased by nearly 50% over the same period from just over 100 deaths a day to just over 150 deaths.

The four provinces that are leading the second wave are Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Alcohol sales will be sold between 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening from Monday to Thursday.

Beaches and parks in areas of the highest infection, such as the whole of the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route in the Western Cape, will be closed for the duration of the festive season from the 16th of December to the 3rd of January to prevent super spreader events.

Ramaphosa says the regulations are aimed at curbing further COVID-19 infections and deaths.