President Cyril Rmapahosa, on Monday evening’s ‘family meeting’, announced a number of changes in South Africa lockdown status.
Ramaphosa address: What he said
The president kicked off his address with some reflection on the historic arrival of one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine at OR Tambo International Airport, an event he attended with his deputy David Mabuza and Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Ramaphosa explained that the next phase of the vaccine programme will be to run tests on the doses before they are distributed to South Africa’s healthcare workers.
“In accordance with our phased rollout strategy, all healthcare workers in the public and private sectors will be prioritised for vaccination,” he said.
SA expects more vaccine doses from these manufacturers
The president added that phase two of the vaccine programme will commence once every healthcare worker has been immunised.
The mass programme, Ramaphosa explained, will be administered by the electronic vaccination data system (EVDS).
“In addition to the one million doses we received today. We expect another 500 000 from the SII to arrive later in February,” he said.
Ramaphosa confirmed that two million doses of the Moderna vaccine will arrive in March.
Johnson & Johnson, on the other hand, has committed to deliver nine million doses in the second quarter of the year (between March and June).
Pfizer will also make delivery of doses in the second quarter.
What are the changes to lockdown regulations?
These are the lockdown regulation changes Ramaphosa announced in his address:
- Alcohol ban: Off-site consuption permitted from Monday to Thursday, from 10:00 until 18:00. On-site consumption will be permitted from Monday to Friday, during operating hours.
- Beaches and parks: Will be reopened subject to strict safety protocols
- Faith-based gatherings: Now permitted with strict safety protocols followed. Only 50 people allowed for indoor venues. Small venues cannot have more than 50% of capacity.
- Funerals: May not be attended by more than 50 people. Strict safety protocols must be adhered to.
- Social gatherings: Will not be permitted.
- Curfew: Has been adjusted to 23:00 until 04:00
A full list of the updated changes to Alert Level 3 will be updated once they have been released.
