New Level 1 Blocking Rules for COVID-19 Hotspots: What You Can and Can’t Do

The Minister of Cooperative Government and Corporate Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has released the updated Alert Level 1 lockdown regulations for South Africa.

These regulations include new restrictions to be imposed in specific areas identified as COVID-19 hotspots.

This follows a President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech on December 3, 2020, where he said that the first region to be classified as a hotspot is the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

“There is now clear evidence of a resurgence of infections in parts of our country, which if not dealt with decisively and directly, could lead to great suffering and death.”

“Consistent with our differentiated approach to managing the pandemic, we will implement additional measures in those areas identified as coronavirus hot spots,” he said.

Ramaphosa also noted that there is a risk of a COVID-19 resurgence in the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route District in the Western Cape.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize will visit these districts in the coming days to determine if they will also be classified as hotspots.

The national state of disaster has been extended until January 15 to allow continued compliance with lockdown regulations in South Africa.

Existing COVID-19 Alert Level 1 restrictions will remain in effect nationwide.

In case of an interpretation conflict between the existing level 1 blocking restrictions and the new hotspot restrictions, the latter will apply with respect to an area defined as a hotspot.

Below is the full list of additional restrictions that will apply to COVID-19 hotspots.

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Movement of people

• Each person is confined to their place of residence from 10:00 PM to 04:00 AM every day. except where a person.
  • You have been granted an essential services permit;
  • you are attending a medical or safety emergency.

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Attendance at funerals

• Attendance at a funeral is limited to 100 people or less – as long as no more than 50 percent of the venue’s capacity is used, with people observing a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other.
• No night watches are allowed.
• Post-funeral gatherings are not allowed in designated areas such as hotspots.
• During a funeral, a person must wear a mask and adhere to all health protocols and social distancing measures.

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Meetings

• Everyone, when attending a meeting and in order to limit exposure to COVID -19 should:
  • wear a mask;
  • adhere to all health protocols;
  • keep a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other;
  • adhere to any other health protocol and social distancing measures
• An owner or operator of any indoor or outdoor facility where meetings are held must show the certificate of occupancy stating the maximum number of people that the facility can accommodate.
• Meetings are limited to 100 people or less for an indoor meeting and 250 people or less for an outdoor meeting – provided no more than 50 percent of the venue capacity is used, with people observing a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other.
• Meetings are allowed in the workplace for business purposes. subject to compliance with regulations.
• Meetings are allowed in cinemas, theaters, casinos, beaches, public parks, museums, galleries, libraries, sports fields, gyms, restaurants, bars and hotels subject to restrictions.
• Sports activities are allowed subject to attendance restrictions.
• A law enforcement officer must, when a meeting takes place in contravention of the regulations, order the people in the meeting to disperse immediately or arrest and detain the people if they refuse to comply.

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Initiation practices

• Introductory practices are prohibited in certain areas such as hotspots.

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Sale of liquor

• The sale of liquor by a local authorized for external consumption is only allowed from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday through Thursday, except Friday. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
• The consumption of liquor is not allowed in public places, except in authorized consumption places on the spot.

Roundup: COVID-19 hotspot restrictions

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