Source::Xinhuanet
JOHANNESBURG,
As COVID-19 cases decline, South African cabinet eased lockdown restrictions from alert level three to level one, allowing political and religious gatherings, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday night.
"In the week that has just passed, the country recorded just under 10,000 new infections," Ramaphosa said. "A month ago, in the last week of January, the country recorded over 40,000 new cases. And a month before that, in the last week of December, the country recorded close to 90,000 new cases."
Due to the decline in infections, the country can now "cautiously" ease some of the restrictions on movement and activities, he said. Religious, social, political and cultural gatherings will be permitted, subject to limitations on size, adherence to social distancing and other health protocols.
The hours of the curfew will now be from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. The sale of alcohol will be permitted, according to normal licence provisions. However, night vigils or other gatherings before or after funerals are still not permitted. Nightclubs will remain closed. The 33 land border posts that have been closed throughout this period will remain closed. The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory.
Ramaphosa said the return to Level 1 means that most of the remaining restrictions on economic activities have been removed. "We expect this to lead to higher consumption spending, bolstered by the steady recovery in employment."
ALSO READ
