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The government has issued a series of directives updating the country’s lockdown rules in a number of areas, including opening preschool centers and visiting nursing homes.
With President Cyril Ramaphosa reportedly willing to announce a move to a level 1 blockade This week, the directives further relax restrictions and provide clarity on lingering issues such as visitation.
These new blocking rules are described in more detail below.
Residences and residences for the elderly
The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, has published a new directive It provides greater clarity on visits to nursing homes and fragile care facilities.
Visiting nursing homes has been banned since the country first moved to shutdown in late March as senior citizens are seen as being at the highest risk of contracting the coronavirus.
The latest directive confirms that visits are now allowed, provided that:
- Visits are planned;
- There is a screening call prior to the visit;
- Visitors are subject to symptom verification and determination of known prior exposure to Covid-19.
Preschool, Aftercare, and Early Childhood Development Programs
Zulu also clarified that early childhood development programs and part-care facilities can be reopened if health and safety measures are in place.
Some of the main conditions include:
- A child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or, if not practically possible, by a person designated by a parent or legal guardian, every day when the child attends an early childhood development program or a partial care center, and should be screened;
- In the case of a child who is twelve years of age or younger and is accompanied by a designated person, the parents or legal guardian must provide the child with the information required for examination of symptoms;
- A parent, legal guardian, or a person designated by a parent or legal guardian has the right to ask the early childhood development program or part-care center for details of the measures that have been implemented;
- A child with a known underlying health condition that may place the child in a higher-than-normal risk category as defined by the Department of Health cannot return unless a physician grants written authorization that it is safe.
Travel
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has published a directive which broadens the circumstances in which international flights are allowed. These include:
- Transportation of fuel, cargo and merchandise;
- The evacuation of a South African citizen or permanent resident to the republic;
- The repatriation of a foreigner to his country of nationality or permanent residence;
- Medical emergencies regarding a life-threatening condition;
- The movement of personnel from diplomatic and international organizations;
- The return of a South African citizen or permanent resident to his place of work, study or residence, outside the republic;
- Other categories, as authorized by the Minister of Transport, but excluding international passenger air travel for leisure purposes.
The directive also further opens up what activities are allowed for general aviation, including recreational aviation.
Courts
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Ronald Lamola, has published a directive which provides for the operation of the country’s courts under a level 2 and level 1 blockade.
While the directive sets out well-understood health protocols to be followed, it also updates a number of existing regulations, including:
- A list of cases to be prioritized;
- An audiovisual link or any electronic mode may be used in any procedure in which the president deems it appropriate and, in the event of doing so, would avoid unjustified delays, save costs or be convenient and make it unnecessary for the person to appear in person in the courtroom .
- The number of persons permitted in a public gallery of a courtroom, courthouse or point of justice service is subject to a restriction to no more than 50% of the available space, with members of the public observing a distance of at least one and a half meter from each other.
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