South Africa is poised to ease lockdown restrictions
South Africa is poised to enter a phase of normality under “advanced” level 3 of the national lockdown as announced by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa on the 17th of June 2020. South Africa entered level 3 on June 1, 2020. The “advanced” level 3 is a further relaxation of the lockdown. Most businesses will be returning to normal trading at this level.
Following consultative discussions with scientists and industry leaders, the country is easing restrictions on certain business industries.
Restrictions will be eased in South Africa for the following activities:
- Restaurants for ‘sit-down’ meals
- Personal care services, including hairdressers and beauty services
- Conferences and meetings for business purposes and in line with restrictions on public gatherings
- Cinemas and theatres, to be aligned to limitations on the gathering of people
- Non-contact sports such as golf, tennis, cricket and others. Contact sports will be allowed only for training and modified activities with restricted use of facilities
- Accredited and licensed accommodation, with the exemption of home-sharing accommodation like Airbnb
- Casinos
The added sectors would be allowed to operate under strict measures to ensure physical distancing and personal hygiene. The industries above employed well over 500 000 people and the government had to consider these people and their livelihoods while saving lives. The dates for the reopening of these sectors are yet to be announced.
The country has been managing the spread of Coronavirus on the economy using a risk-adjusted strategy since the 1st of May 2020 when the country entered a stricter level 4 lockdown after 5 weeks of a hard lockdown. South Africa is working closely with other nations and international organisations in responding to the coronavirus.
As of 29 June 2020, 1 567 084 tests have been conducted with 138 134 tested positive, resulting in 2 456 deaths. South Africa is expecting an increasing number of cases during the latter winter months of July and August, and thereafter, expecting to flatten off the curve.
Source: Press, South Africa Government