Lockdown curfew lifted ahead of the New Year

Government has heeded the call from South Africans to lift the curfew in order to celebrate the new year without interruptions.

In a statement released by the minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, the Cabinet has decided to ease some restrictions for Lockdown Alert Level 1.

According to Gungubele, the country has moved from the peak of the fourth wave due to new infections declining in most provinces.

“While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been lower rates of hospitalisation than in previous waves. This means that the country has a spare capacity for admission of patients even for routine health services.”

“The NCCC will continue to closely monitor the situation and will make further adjustments as necessary, particularly if pressure on health facilities increases,” said the minister.

Based on the trajectory of the pandemic, the levels of vaccination in the country and the available capacity within the health sector, Cabinet has decided to make the following changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect:

– The curfew will be lifted. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people.

– Gatherings are restricted to no more than 1 000 people indoors and no more than 2 000 people outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used. All other restrictions remain in place.

– Alcohol establishments that have licences to operate beyond 23h00 will revert back to full licence conditions.

The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offence.

South Africans are urged to continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus.