On the eve of Youth Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoiled everyone’s plans and placed the country on Alert Level 3.
Here’s why Ramaphosa tightened lockdown restrictions
In his address, the president lamented on the catch 22 he found himself in, as the leader of a country slowly losing its grip on economic reform.
“If we act too soon, or impose measures that are too severe, the economy will suffer. At the same time, if we act too late, or if our response is too weak, we risk losing control of the virus,” he said.
However, the recent surge in COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations has left the president with no other choice but to tighten the belt around our movement.
In a span of a week, average daily infections have risen from 3 700 to more than 7 500, with hospitalisations rising to 59% in the last 14 days.
Gauteng may be leading the line as the first province to enter the third wave, but Free State, North West and Northern Cape are following closely behind.
“The increase in infections in Gauteng is now faster and steeper than it was at the same time in previous waves. Within a matter of days, it is likely that the number of new cases in Gauteng will surpass the peak of the second wave. Private hospitals in the province have reported that they are near capacity,” Ramaphosa revealed.
What’s prohibited at Alert Level 3?
To avert an impending health crisis, the president warned that decisive action had to be taken. Consequently, Ramaphosa and his Cabinet resolved to place the country at Alert Level 3 with these updated restrictions:
- The curfew hours have been changed to 22:00 until 04:00
- Non-essential businesses (restaurants, gyms, bars) must close at 21:00
- All gatherings (religious and funerals, cremations too) are only allowed 50 attendees indoors and 100 outdoors.
- If the venue is smaller than the minimum capacity limit, the gathering must not exceed 50% of the total attendees it can accommodate
- Night vigils, ‘after-tears’ and other post-funeral gatherings are not allowed
- Alcohol sales for off-site consumption are only allowed between 10:00 and 18:00, from Monday to Thursday
- Alcohol sales for on-site consumption is permitted until 21:00
- Alcohol consumption in public spaces is prohibited
- Beaches and parks will remain open
Wearing a face mask and maintaining social distancing remains a mandatory practice which, if flouted, can carry a prison term.
Ramaphosa details latest changes to vaccine rollout
Ramaphosa, in his address, also dealt with the elephant in the room. The president acknowledged the setbacks South Africa has endured in its vaccine rollout programme.
Earlier this week, two million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson jab had to be discarded due to a contamination error that was committed at a laboratory in Baltimore, US, back in April.
How this was never picked up remains a head-scratcher. Alas, Ramaphosa provided updates on the plans in place to recover from this setback:
- Issues with J&J have been resolved;
- the Aspen plant in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, has resumed producing new doses;
- an undisclosed number of J&J vaccines will be supplied in the next few days;
- by the end of June, South Africa aims to receive 700 000 more Pfizer doses;
- J&J has committed to replacing the two million doses by the end of the month;
- this consignment will be used to inoculate educators and security personnel; and
- in the near future, South Africa will be inoculating 250 000 people per day.
So far, South Africa has vaccinated close to two million citizens, 75% (1.5 million) of which account for the first of two shots of the Pfizer vaccine.
According to the president, South Africa’s total Pfizer stock count amounts to 2.1 million jabs. Basic subtraction tells us that there are about 900 000 vaccines from the BioTech manufacturer left. The 700 000 jabs expected in the next few weeks should supplement the second round of doses expected by the 1.5 million people mentioned above.
Even with an increase expected in daily vaccination figures, South Africa is nowhere near reaching its goal of inoculating 65% of the population.