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SA moves to Level 3 of lockdown
In a move to curb the spread of Covid-19, South Africa has moved to adjusted Level 3 from Level 1 with immediate effect, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday evening, 28 December.
The president’s announcement comes after South Africa breached the one million mark of confirmed Covid-19 cases, after 9,502 cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the cumulative total to 1,004,413 cases. In addition, South African genomic scientists recently identified a variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, currently termed 501.V2 variant, which appears to be more contagious than the virus that drove the first wave of infections.
“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,” Ramaphosa said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa became emotional as he announced tighter level 3 lockdown restrictions. Image: GCIS
A stricter curfew and tighter restrictions on alcohol sales are in the offing as South Africa enters level 3 lockdown
With the number of new coronavirus infections climbing at an unprecedented rate, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the country is back to level 3 lockdown – but with harsher restrictions.
Ramaphosa labelled super-spreader events such as end-of-year functions, family and social gatherings, and music and cultural events as the main cause of the rapid rise in infections.
That comes as the nation is about to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Johannesburg: The government has banned the distribution and sale of alcohol.
In his address last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the sale of liquor had led to high trauma in hospitals, stating that “in such a scenario, every piece of medical equipment, every hospital bed, every health-care worker, and every oxygen tank is needed to save lives and curb the further spread of Covid-19”.
According to President Ramaphosa, the level 3 lockdown regulations would remain in place until January 15, adding that these regulations would be reviewed at a later stage.
The new regulations include a new curfew that will be in place from 9pm to 6am.
Let us each light a candle in memory of those who have lost their lives
President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing the nation on Monday on developments in relation to the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic as South Africa on Sunday breached one million cumulative Covid-19 cases. Read his full speech below:
Fellow South Africans,
This is traditionally a time of festivity and celebrating.
Unfortunately, for us here in South Africa and for others around the world, there is little cause for celebration this year.
Nearly 27,000 South Africans are known to have died from COVID-19.
The number of new coronavirus infections is climbing at an unprecedented rate.