South Africa has imposed fresh restrictions as the country’s
coronavirus cases has now exceeded one million.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
President Cyril Ramaphosa, at a briefing on Monday, said
“cabinet has decided to put the country on an adjusted level three
from level one with immediate effect”.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The level three restrictions include extension of curfew time
from 9pm to 6am; ban on indoor and outdoor gatherings for the next
two weeks; shutdown of businesses involved in the sale of alcohol;
and prosecution of persons arrested for flouting the rule on
compulsory wearing of face masks.
“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 said.
“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.
“Night clubs and businesses engaged in the sale and
transportation of liquor will not be allowed to operate.
“The level three restrictions will remain in place until 15
January, 2021.
“In effect, the adjusted level three regulations will keep the
economy open while strengthening measures to reduce transmission.
With a few exceptions, businesses may continue to operate as long
as all relevant health protocols and social distancing measures are
adhered to.”
The country has now reported 1,004,413 infections, the highest
in Africa, after recording 9,502 new cases on Sunday.
Zwelini Mkhize, the country’s health minister, who confirmed the
development, added that over 800,000 patients had recovered.
“Today, we have breached one million cumulative cases of
COVID-19 in South Africa, with a cumulative of 1,004,413 cases
reported. A cumulative of 6,445,318 tests have been conducted with
29,494 tests completed since the last report,” he said.
“Our recoveries currently stand at 844,874. This represents a
recovery rate of 84.1 percent.”
Many countries, including the UK, France, Germany, have imposed
travel bans to and from South Africa after a new variant of the
coronavirus was discovered in the country.
Ramaphosa, who expressed concern about the new variant called
501.V2, said it “appears that it may be more contagious”, as more
than 50,000 new cases have been reported since December 24.
He called for the cooperation of residents on strict adherence
to the new regulations, adding that the country has been told to
expect the first batch of vaccines in the second quarter of
2021.
“We are part of the first group of countries that will receive
an allocation of vaccines from COVAX. We have been advised that we
should expect the vaccines in the second quarter of 2021,” he
said.
“We can confirm that we have signed off on the agreement with
COVAX and the Solidarity Fund has made the initial payment of R283
million to the facility.”
South Africa has imposed fresh restrictions as the country’s
coronavirus cases has now exceeded one million.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, at a briefing on Monday, said
“cabinet has decided to put the country on an adjusted level three
from level one with immediate effect”.
The level three restrictions include extension of curfew time
from 9pm to 6am; ban on indoor and outdoor gatherings for the next
two weeks; shutdown of businesses involved in the sale of alcohol;
and prosecution of persons arrested for flouting the rule on
compulsory wearing of face masks.
“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 said.
“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.
“Night clubs and businesses engaged in the sale and
transportation of liquor will not be allowed to operate.
“The level three restrictions will remain in place until 15
January, 2021.
“In effect, the adjusted level three regulations will keep the
economy open while strengthening measures to reduce transmission.
With a few exceptions, businesses may continue to operate as long
as all relevant health protocols and social distancing measures are
adhered to.”
The country has now reported 1,004,413 infections, the highest
in Africa, after recording 9,502 new cases on Sunday.
Zwelini Mkhize, the country’s health minister, who confirmed the
development, added that over 800,000 patients had recovered.
“Today, we have breached one million cumulative cases of
COVID-19 in South Africa, with a cumulative of 1,004,413 cases
reported. A cumulative of 6,445,318 tests have been conducted with
29,494 tests completed since the last report,” he said.
“Our recoveries currently stand at 844,874. This represents a
recovery rate of 84.1 percent.”
Many countries, including the UK, France, Germany, have imposed
travel bans to and from South Africa after a new variant of the
coronavirus was discovered in the country.
Ramaphosa, who expressed concern about the new variant called
501.V2, said it “appears that it may be more contagious”, as more
than 50,000 new cases have been reported since December 24.
He called for the cooperation of residents on strict adherence
to the new regulations, adding that the country has been told to
expect the first batch of vaccines in the second quarter of
2021.
“We are part of the first group of countries that will receive
an allocation of vaccines from COVAX. We have been advised that we
should expect the vaccines in the second quarter of 2021,” he
said.
“We can confirm that we have signed off on the agreement with
COVAX and the Solidarity Fund has made the initial payment of R283
million to the facility.”