President Cyril Ramaphosa has implemented a nationwide curfew from 11pm to 4am. During a live address to the nation on Monday evening [December 14], Ramaphosa said the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are the four provinces leading the infection rate.
The Sarah Baartman district in the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route district in the Western Cape have officially been named COVID-19 hotspots. As hotspots, they are under the same restrictions as the Nelson Mandela Bay district, which will be in immediate effect from midnight, December 14.
These include:
– A curfew from 10pm – 4am effective from December 4
– Alcohol sales only permitted from Monday – Thursday, from 10am – 6pm
– For indoor gatherings, the maximum occupancy has been reduced from 250 to 100 people – and the 50% capacity rule applies
– Drinking alcohol on beaches and in parks has been forbidden
– No ‘after-tears’ parties will be allowed.
Nationwide, existing alert level 1 restrictions will be greater enforced. All post funeral events nationwide are prohibited.
In the whole of the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route, beaches and public parks will be closed from December 16 to January 3.
In KwaZulu-Natal, beaches and public parks will be closed on what are traditionally the busiest days of the season. These days are December 16, 25, 26 and 31, 2020 and January 1, 2 and 3 of 2021.
The beaches and public parks of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape – with the exception of the Garden Route – will remain open to the public over the festive season.
Beaches that remain open may only be open to the public from 9am to 6pm. All festivals and live performances at beaches are prohibited.
The situation will be monitored daily by local authorities to ensure compliance with the regulations on gatherings and the prohibition of alcohol.
From December 15, alcohol sales from retail outlets are restricted to Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 6pm. No on-site consumption of alcohol at licensed establishments are allowed after 10pm and no conumsption of alcohol is allowed in public spaces, including parks and beaches.
Wine farms may continue to offer wine tasting and sale of wine for off-consumption during normal licensed hours.
Religious events are now capped at 100 people indoors and 250 outdoors. At all gatherings, events may not exceed 50% capacity and social distancing must be enforced.
Cumulative cases now stand at 866 127, meaning the country is nearing the one-million mark. Daily averages of infections are 74% higher than the last seven days, and deaths have increased by nearly 50% in the same period.
*This is a developing story
Picture: Screenshot from livestream
