South Africa: COVID-19 UPDATE: Lockdown Measures Eased As The Rate Of Infections Decreases

The steady decrease of the number of infections over the past three weeks has indicated that South Africa has passed the peak of the second wave. As a result, the Cabinet has decided to ease lockdown restrictions under Adjusted Level 3, in efforts to encouraged increased economic activity.

The latest amendment to the Disaster Management Act was gazetted by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Dr Dlamini-Zuma, and the amended regulations were officially announced by the President of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, on 1 February 2021, and shall be effective from 2 February 2021.

The notable amendments on the latest regulations are as follows:

Curfew (Movement of persons)

Movement of persons is now prohibited between 23H00 and 04H00 daily. An exception is still made for persons who have been granted permission through directions issued by the relevant Cabinet member or a permit which correspond with Form 7 of Annexure A, to perform a service not related to any activity prohibited under the regulations; and/or persons attending to a security or medical emergency.

The closing times for the following establishments, whether indoors or outdoors, is 22H00:

• cinemas;
• theatres;
• casinos;
• museum, galleries and archives;
• public swimming pools;
• beaches and public parks;
• game parks, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos;
• gyms and fitness centres;
• restaurants;
• establishments offering wine-tastings and other brew-tasting;
• venues hosting auctions; and
• venues hosting professional sport.

Public Spaces Protocols

The President, in his address, urged people to continue wearing masks when they are in public spaces since the transmission rate is still high. The wearing of masks is still mandatory for every person when in a public space.

Opening and closure of schools

The dates for the opening and closure of the schools will be determined by the Minister of Basic Education.

Gatherings

Social gatherings, political gatherings and traditional councils meetings are still prohibited.

Faith-based gatherings are now permitted, subject to a limit of 50 persons or less for indoors venues and 100 persons or less for outdoors venues. In smaller venues that are unable to accommodate a capacity of 50 or 100 persons, respectively, only 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used. This is subject to health protocols; social distancing measures and curfew hours being adhered to.

All beaches, dams, lakes and rivers are open to the public, subject to health protocols and social distancing measures being adhered to. The opening of swimming pools and recreational facilities at these places, is subject to the limitation of 50 persons or less and, in smaller venues that are unable to accommodate 50 persons, only 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used.

Closure of borders

International air travel is still restricted to the following airports: OR Tambo International Airport; King Shaka Airport and Cape Town International Airport. Long-haul flight departures and landings at these airports is permitted during curfew hours.

International travellers arriving at these airports must provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate which must be obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel. Failure to provide such certificate will result in a traveller being required to do an antigen test at their own cost and, if they test positive, they will be required to quarantine at their own cost, for a period of 10 days.

Sale of Liquor

The sale of liquor by licensed premises for off-site consumption, is permitted between 10H00 and 18H00 from Mondays to Thursdays. Its prohibited on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. This restriction does not apply to duty-free shops, registered wineries, wine farms, micro-breweries, and micro-distilleries.

The sale of liquor by licensed premises for on-site consumption, for example, taverns and restaurants, is permitted between 10H00 and 22H00 from Monday to Friday.

The consumption of liquor in public places is prohibited. This excludes premises which are licensed for on-site consumption.

The tasting and selling of wine and other brews to the public for off-site consumption is permitted, subject to curfew hours and adherence to health protocols and social distancing measures. The transportation of liquor is also permitted.

The President urged the public to drink responsibly to avoid any spike in trauma cases or increase in infections due to reckless behaviour.

Returning to work

The President noted the negative impact of lockdown for businesses and urged employers to continue to allow employees to work from home, where possible. In terms of the amended regulations, all persons who can work from home must do so. All persons will, however, be permitted to perform any type of work outside the home, and to travel to and from work subject to strict compliance with health protocols and social distancing measures; the return to work being phased-in in order to place measures to make the workplace COVID-19 ready, and the work not being listed under the specific economic exclusions table.

The list of specifically prohibited gatherings and activities includes:

• Night vigils.
• After-funeral gatherings including "after-tears" gatherings.
• All social gatherings.
• Night clubs.
• The land borders that remain closed, excluding land borders contemplated in regulation 42(1).
• Initiation practises except as specifically allowed in regulations 40 and 85.
• Post initiation practises (imigidi).
• Passenger ships for international leisure purposes, excluding small craft, in line with health and border law enforcement.
• Attendance of any sporting event by spectators.
• Exclusions relating to public transport services as set out in the directions issued by the Cabinet members responsible for education.

With the planned roll-out of vaccination programme throughout the year, the President expressed a hope that the number of infections will be reduced and the tide will turn on the spread of the disease.

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