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President Cyril Ramaphosa
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Areas considered Covid-19 hotspots across the country will soon see a curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
- There will be alcohol restrictions in place in these areas that will allow the sale of alcohol only Monday through Thursday.
- It appears that bars and restaurants will be allowed to trade in these areas, but only until 9:00 PM, if the NCCC recommendation is accepted.
The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) agreed that there should be a 10 p.m. curfew in Covid-19 hotspot areas across the country, that alcohol sales should be restricted Monday through Thursday, and that pubs and taverns should close at 9:00 pm, News24 understands from impeccable sources close to the discussions.
The NCCC met Tuesday when it recommended that alcohol consumption be banned in public areas, such as beaches and parks, and that restaurants should close at 9:00 p.m. in areas where there are spikes in Covid-19 infections.
In addition, it recommended that public gatherings at these hotspots be limited to 100 people indoors and 250 outdoors, including for religious events, sources close to the meeting said.
News24 understands that those attending Tuesday’s meeting agreed that there should be regionalized restrictions to curb the spread of the virus in critical areas, such as Nelson Mandela Bay and the Garden Route. The list of Covid-19 hotspot areas is not finalized, but the government has turned its attention to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
For the rest of the country, it appears that Level 1 one of the national lockdown will remain in place, according to sources.
READ | Covid-19: Ramaphosa to hold high-level meeting ahead of planned announcement on restrictions
Insiders said meeting attendees were told that Nelson Mandela Bay posed the greatest risk as hospitals were full, including private health facilities.
Worse still, the country is expected to see an influx of people from Gauteng and the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, posing a challenge for local authorities.
Sources said the NCCC recommended that all post-funeral events, such as “after the tears,” events be banned from access areas.
Initiation
However, starter schools will reopen in the Eastern Cape with strict regulations, except for Nelson Mandela Bay.
The sources said that those attending the meeting expressed concern about the proliferation of illegal initiation schools if the accumulation of insiders was not solved.
“But this will be overseen by health teams, police, local officials and even traditional leaders,” said a source.
The NCCC’s recommendations will be discussed Wednesday morning at a meeting of the Presidential Coordinating Council, made up of prime ministers, metro mayors, and local government representatives.
“There will be some counterproposals, but I think there is an agreement that we cannot afford stricter regulations as much as we need them. We just cannot afford them,” said a source.
The cabinet is expected to meet to approve the recommendations before President Cyril Ramaphosa announces the new measures this week.
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