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President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that as of May 1, some measures of the national blockade implemented in March will be facilitated.
The easing of the restrictions will focus on reviving economic activity, and Ramaphosa said Thursday that strict public health and safety measures would be maintained for those sectors identified to resume some business activities.
READ | Ramaphosa’s full speech on how to ease the blockage
For the general public, and for those with underlying conditions, the blocking regulations would still apply if they did not work in a sector that would be allowed to partially reopen.
Here are nine key points from Ramaphosa’s leadership:
1. Risk levels
A strategy has been developed by which the country, provinces, districts and metropolitan areas will be classified on a five-level risk scale, one low risk and five higher risk, which will determine the current restrictions at a time dice. South Africa would move to level 4 from May 1.
“This approach is guided by the advice of scientists who have advised that an abrupt and uncontrolled lifting of restrictions could cause a massive resurgence of infections,” said Ramaphosa.
2. Travel bans remain in effect
The international travel ban implemented on March 15 would remain in effect, and travel between provinces would remain restricted in addition to the transportation of essential or funeral goods.
“Public transportation will continue to operate, with limitations on the number of passengers and strict hygiene requirements, including that all passengers must wear a face mask.
“The public is encouraged to stay home, except for essential personal movement, do essential work, and work in sectors that are under controlled openness. People can exercise under strict public health conditions,” said Ramaphosa.
The blockage will ease over time. (Rudi Louw / News24)
3. Cigarettes back on the shelves
After weeks of intense lobbying and threats of legal action by tobacco companies, the cigarettes will be sold again in stores.
The categories of products that can be sold in stores will be expanded to include more items, to be communicated next week.
4. More than 70,000 SANDF members will be deployed
Ramaphosa confirmed that it had deployed more than 70,000 defense force personnel, in addition to those already deployed.
“So far, members of the defense force who have been deployed have supported the South African Police Service in their responsibilities. They will continue to do so, but will also assist in other essential areas, such as water supply, infrastructure maintenance and services. health, “he said.
5. Sector focus
Economic activity will be allowed to resume to some extent and will be based on analysis of risk levels in each sector separately.
The organizations of the sector would be asked in the next week to make contributions, which will shape the identified sectors and the restrictions that will be imposed on them.
Ramaphosa said strict health and safety measures would be implemented and enforced, while the government would encourage continued work-from-home strategies for staff who could.
“We have undertaken a detailed exercise to classify the different parts of the economy according to the risk of transmission in that sector, the expected impact of the blockade, the economic contribution of the sector and the effect on livelihoods. The relevant ministers will provide a Detailed summary on the classification of industries and how each one is affected at each level, “he added.
6. Some exercise will be allowed
People could leave their homes to exercise in specific circumstances and provided they take the necessary safety precautions.
7. Much remains unknown
Ramaphosa said the risk-adjusted approach was necessary because a sudden and abrupt lifting of the closure could result in a Covid-19 case explosion, because the number of cases was likely to far exceed the confirmed and reported numbers.
“We have decided on this approach because there is still much that is unknown about the rate and how the virus spreads within our population. Therefore, the action we take now must be measured and incremental.
“We have to balance the need to resume economic activity with the imperative to contain the virus and save lives. To achieve this, we have developed an approach that determines the measures that we should implement based on the direction of the pandemic in our country,” added.
8. Social gatherings and bars remain closed.
“It is important to note that various restrictions will be maintained regardless of alert level as long as there is a risk of transmission,” said Ramaphosa.
Bars and shebeens would remain closed, as well as conference and convention centers, entertainment venues, cinemas and theaters, while concerts, sporting events and religious, cultural and social gatherings would not be allowed until it was deemed safe to continue, he added. .
9. 75% of the country‘s Covid-19 cases are in metropolitan areas
“From the evidence we have, we know that 75% of confirmed coronavirus cases are found in just six metropolitan municipalities: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town, Buffalo City, Ethekwini and Mangaung.
“Therefore, it is essential that we do everything possible to restrict the movement of people and, although it goes against our own nature, to reduce the contact that each one of us has between us,” said Ramaphosa.
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