SA Remains on Lockdown Alert Level 1

By: Mfundo Mabaso & Bright Ntuli

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country is still not ready to operate under normal conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President had been addressing the nation on Tuesday evening, where he announced that South Africa will remain under lockdown alert level 1.

Speculations of tighter lockdown restrictions during the Passover long weekend have been making rounds, as experts believe that the third wave is looming.

Ramaphosa says following consultation with faith communities, religious gatherings over this period will be restricted to a total number of 250 people indoors and 500 outdoors.

“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. Congregants should not gather outside their usual places of worship, and people must go home and not sleep over after services,” explains Ramaphosa.

The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption will be prohibited this coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday but on-site sales at restaurants, shebeens and bars will be allowed, according to licensing conditions, up until 23:00.

Funerals remain restricted to a maximum of 100 people and with a two-hour limit on services.

Ramaphosa adds that they will review these measures on the size of gatherings within the next 15 days based on an assessment on the state of the pandemic and the extent of compliance with health protocols.

South Africa currently has 20 359 active COVID-19 cases with close to 10 million tests conducted and 251 707 vaccines administered.

Fellow South Africans,
 
This pandemic is still very much with us.
 
We must act with caution, not just this coming weekend but in the days, weeks and months ahead.https://t.co/BxlN1OLuzp

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 30, 2021