MAY 2020 - COVID UPDATE

On 1 May we went to Level 4 

As at 1 May the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa was 5951.The total number of tests conducted to date is 217 522, of which 9992 were done in the last 24 hours

Recoveries stand at 2382 as of 29 April 2020

“Level 4 means that some activity can be allowed to resume, subject to extreme precautions required to limit community transmission and outbreaks,” Ramaphosa explained.

Dlamini-Zuma in her presentation described this level as when the virus is spreading at a moderate to high rate with the health care system having little to moderate readiness.  Simply put, this means that the virus is spreading rapidly and infecting a large number of people, more than what the health care system will be able to handle.

Sale of cigarettes and alcohol prohibited

The sale of cigarettes and alcohol, however, remains prohibited.

Any form of liquor is also not permitted to be distributed.

“The non-sale of alcohol has freed the hospitals; our emergency hospitals and units are normal now. Our ICUs are not filled with people who have been stabbed or shot or raped or so on.”

“Besides that, alcohol attracts crowds. Very few people enjoy drinking alone. Besides that, it means that the police can do what they need to do and all the enforcement officers. The hospital can look after the sick and not the emergencies that comes from effects of alcohol,” she explained.  

The government also thanked the public for comments that were received - over 70 000 submissions that they considered and about 800 from the business sector.

Exercise

“The most popular submission was on exercise, over 22 000 people wanted [to] exercise,” she said.

“You can leave to go exercise under strict conditions,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

Under the new regulation, people can cycle, run and walk within their neighbourhood of about a 5 km radius between 6 am and 9 am.

Movement of people

Under level 4, children who had visited relatives before the lockdown would be permitted to move back home.

Dlamini-Zuma said more people would be going to work under level 4, however, she stressed that people should stay at home after knocking off.

“It’s not a license to visit your relatives or friends. So, between 8pm and 5am, if you’re not having a permit to be out, you have to be at home,” she added.

Those who work in Gauteng but live in neighbouring provinces like North West, Mpumalanga or Limpopo will be permitted to travel daily but should be in possession of a permit.

However, movements between provinces will not be allowed.

“They’re on a different level of the infection, others have higher rates of infections and we don’t want those at a higher rate of infection to keep moving to those at a moderate rate of infection.”  

The regulations on funerals have not changed and close relatives still need a death certificate and permission from the police station or Magistrate to attend.

The borders – sea borders, air and land ports of entry – are still closed except for goods that are arriving or leaving the country.

The movement of people across borders is only allowed under exceptional circumstance for instance, if you are a South African stuck in another country.

“When they return, they must be quarantined for 14 days before they go to their families, homes or work because some will be coming from very high-risk countries where the infection is higher than it is here.”

Recreation movement is still not allowed.

The government said evictions from people's residences are still not permitted.

Because more people will be going back to work – rail and busses and other forms of transport will now be operated under strict guidelines.

Transportation of cargo and all agricultural products, such as wine and wool, among others, will open for exportation.

People are still barred from going to beaches, flea-markets, night clubs and parks. Hairdressers’ doors will still be closed under level 4 because of the risk, despite a lot of people asking for it.

However, you can still go out and buy winter clothes, heaters and bedding to keep warm to curb the flu outbreak as winter approaches.

Work places must be COVID-19 ready

“We’re still encouraging people who can work at home to work at home.”

For those who will be returning to work, Dlamini-Zuma urged industries to prepare their workplaces.   

She said no company should undermine sanitation, Personal Protective Equipment, using masks and social distancing.

“It’s important because if you’re not COVID-19 ready, the people come, you don’t screen them, you don’t adhere to protocol, sooner or later they’ll be a spread and that company will be forced to close,” she warned.

Therefore, telecom services and infrastructure and information and communication technology companies, are allowed to operate and service private homes as well.

Hotels and guesthouses will remain closed unless they are used for quarantine or essential services.

She said those who do not adhere to the COVID-19 regulations will be fined. – SAnews.gov.za