Faizel Patel – 28/12/2020
Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will be moving to an adjusted level three of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday on the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
South Africa is in the grip of a second wave of the pandemic and has just passed a million cumulative infections.
Ramaphosa says unless we act now and unless we act decisively, the number of new infections will far exceed what we experienced during the first wave and thousands more people will lose their lives.
“On the recommendation of the National Coronavirus Command Council, and after consultation with provinces and metro mayors, Cabinet has decided to put the country on an adjusted Level 3 from Level 1 with immediate effect.”
Ramaphosa says several of the Level 3 regulations are being strengthened to further limit the potential for transmission, while doing everything possible to keep the economy open.
“There are 4 main reasons for this step: Firstly, we want to minimise the risk of super-spreading events even further. As the number of people with active infections rises, there is greater risk of an infected person without symptoms being present in a gathering & spreading the virus.”
Ramaphosa says from now on it is compulsory for every person to wear a mask in a public space.
“A person who does not wear a cloth mask covering over the nose and mouth in a public place will be committing an offence. A person who does not wear a mask could be arrested and prosecuted. On conviction, they will be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both a fine and imprisonment.
The president also banned all indoor and outdoor gatherings adding that all beaches will also be closed.
“All indoor and outdoor gatherings will be prohibited for 14 days from the date hereof, except for funerals and other limited exceptions as detailed in the regulations, such as restaurants, museums, gyms and casinos.”
Ramaphosa says cabinet has decided that 22 districts be declared coronavirus hotspots including parts of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, North West and Limpopo.
“In Gauteng, the West Rand District, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg are declared hotspots.”
Ramaphosa says the Level 3 restrictions will remain in place until 15 January 2021 and will be reviewed at that time on the basis of the state of the pandemic in the country.
The president also announced that the curfew would be extended from 9pm to 6am.
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