MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

President Cyril Ramaphosa Announces Lockdown Easing

By

ON 23 April the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced a Gradual Phased Easing of the South African Lockdown

Today marks exactly 7 Weeks since the first Coronavirus infection in South Africa.

Many countries health systems are on the brink of collapse. Many countries are not ready for a sudden increase and if the virus spreads too quickly there will not be enough resources for everyone.

Sunday 15 March was the initial date of announcement of a National Disaster.

Ramaphosa said that there is clear evidence that the Lockdown is working by slowing down the progression of the pandemic in the country. SA has come in for praise from WHO for the manner in which we have contained the virus.

“Our people need to eat, they need to earn a living.”

Beyond 30 April SA will begin a gradual phased easing of the lockdown strategy.

Actions taken from now will be measured and incremental.

An abrupt lifting of restrictions could cause a large number of infections.

We have to balance the need to resume economic activity with the imperative to save lives.

There will be 5 Coronavirus Levels:

  1. Level 5 – Drastic Measures
  2. Level 4 – Some Activity Allowed
  3. Level 3 – Easing of some restrictions including work and social
  4. Level 2 – Further easing of restrictions but maintenance of social distancing
  5. Level 1 – Most normal activity can resume with precautions

There will be a National Level and separate levels for each province, metro, cities and towns.

The National Coronavirus Council will determine the levels.

Ministers will provide detailed briefings on each industry.

NCC determined that 1 May 2020, Level 4 will come into operation.

Every business will have to adhere to detailed health and safety protocols.

Business will have to resume operations in a phased manner with no more than one third of staff returning at one time.

Level 4:

  • Borders will remain closed
  • No Inter Provincial travel
  • Public Transport – Face Masks mandatory
  • Public encouraged to stay at home
  • People can exercise under strict conditions
  • All gatherings apart from funerals remain prohibited
  • Elderly must stay at home
  • Cigarettes may be sold
  • Additional goods my be sold
  • Several restrictions will remain in place – bars and shebeens remain closed, conferences, theatres, entertainment, venues, sports and churches will remain closed.

As at 23 April 2020 South Africa had recorded 318 new COVID-19 cases, with the total number of confirmed cases at 3 953.

The country also reported 10 new deaths – with the Western Cape recording six deaths, KwaZulu-Natal two deaths and Gauteng and the Eastern Cape have each recorded one death. This brings the number of total deaths related to COVID-19 to 75.

The breakdown of total COVID-19 cases is as follows: Western Cape 1 279; Gauteng 1 252; KwaZulu-Natal 807; Free State 106; Limpopo 27; Eastern Cape 417; North West 25; Northern Cape 16 and Mpumalanga 23.

A total of 143 570 tests had been conducted at public and private institutions.

No new cases were recorded in the Northern Cape, Limpopo and Free State.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.