BREAKING: National lockdown update

Curfew hours, alcohol sales, social gatherings + more news about the vaccines

Latest update: Thursday, 8 April 2021

LOCKDOWN HIGHLIGHTS 

• Temporary booze ban is lifted

• Curfew is between 12pm - 4am

• Phase 1 of the vaccination programme is on track

• Phase 2 of the vaccination programme will begin in May 
  
  

With the Easter holidays over South Africa falls back into Alert Level 1, which means the temporary booze ban is lifted. Plus, there is more good news as phase 1 of the vaccination programme is on track, and phase 2 should begin as soon as May, Ramaphosa said in his address on 30 March. Find out more news, Covid-19 stats and encouraging updates. 

LOCKDOWN LEVEL 1: RESTRICTIONS 

• The sale of alcohol may be sold according to normal license provisions, but no alcohol may be sold during curfew.

• On-site consumption of alcohol from shebeens, restaurants and bars is allowed until 11pm. No alcohol may be sold during curfew.

• Curfew hours are from 12pm until 4am.

• Public spaces such as beaches, parks and dams will stay open.

• Funeral services remain restricted to a maximum of 100 people and must stay within a two-hour limit per service.

• Religious, social, political and cultural gatherings are permitted, subject to health protocols.

• Gatherings may not exceed 100 people for indoor venues and 250 for outdoor venues. If the venue is too small to accommodate more than 50 people, the venue may not exceed more than 50% of its capacity.

• Night vigils or other gatherings happening before or after funerals are not permitted.

• Night clubs will remain closed. 

• Wearing a mask is compulsory when in public spaces. Not wearing a mask in public could get you a fine or in jail.

VACCINATION PROGRAMME IS ON TRACK

Phase 1 of the vaccination programme, which started in February, is expected to be completed within three months, Ramaphosa announced. As of 30 March, more than 250 000 healthcare workers have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. So far, South Africa has secured a total of 31 million vaccine doses from Johnson & Johnson and is finalising another 20 million vaccine doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Over 250 000 healthcare workers have been vaccinated to date. pic.twitter.com/mojTVksVil

— Presidency | South Africa ???????? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2021

Despite the “delays in securing vaccine supplies, we are still confident in achieving our vaccination targets”, Ramaphosa said. Plus, in the past two weeks prior to his address on 30 March, Ramaphosa said that “the number of new cases has remained relatively stable at around 1 200 new cases per day. The number of hospitalisations is declining, as is the number of deaths. Our national recovery rate stands at slightly higher than 95%”.

PHASE 2 WILL BEGIN SOON, SAYS RAMAPHOSA 

“Phase 2 is scheduled to start in mid-May,” Ramaphosa said. Those who are at high risk of hospitalisation or death, such as people over sixty or with co-morbidities, will take priority. There are over 2 000 vaccine sites identified across the country in general practitioners’ rooms, community clinics, pharmacies, retail outlets and in larger spaces like stadiums and conference centres.

Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout will begin in May 2021. pic.twitter.com/F8fDPP2MPE

— Presidency | South Africa ???????? (@PresidencyZA) March 30, 2021

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE VACCINE IN APRIL

Registrations for vaccinations will start in April. To access the vaccines when needed, the Department of Health has developed an Electronic Vaccine Data System. In April, if you have qualified, this will allow you to make an appointment at the nearest vaccine centre to you. 

Every person in South African, regardless of citizenship, will be able to get vaccinated. However, if you are hesitant, Ramaphosa said on 28 February that “nobody will be forced to take this vaccine. Nobody will be forbidden from travelling, from enrolling at school, or from taking part in any public activity if they have not been vaccinated.” But to help ease your mind, “these vaccines have been shown to be safe in large clinical trials across multiple countries”, Ramaphosa confirmed.

ALERT LEVEL 1: TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

“The 33 land border posts that have been closed throughout this period will remain closed,” Ramaphosa said on 28 February, this year. The other 20 land border posts between South Africa and Botswana, Lesotho, Kingdom of Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe will remain open. The five airports, OR Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka, Kruger Mpumalanga and Lanseria airport will be open, with standard infection control measures for international travel under alert level 1.

DOWNLOAD THE CONTACT TRACING APP

There is an app available that uses no data to download and alert you if you have been exposed to the virus. Everyone with a smartphone can download the contact tracing app. 

WATCH: CYRIL RAMAPHOSA’S FULL ADDRESS 

Although there have been delays in securing vaccine supplies, we are still confident in achieving our vaccination targets.https://t.co/BxlN1OLuzp

— Cyril Ramaphosa ???????? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 30, 2021

---

For more updates on Cape Town and coronavirus (COVID-19), including some of the good news we all need during this trying time, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. 

Discover the trails and biodiversity of CapeNature reserves.

The situation is ever-changing and our team is committed to bringing you all the latest updates on COVID-19 in Cape Town. 

You might have cancelled many plans, but there’s still plenty to do to keep yourself entertained this weekend.

What we can expect from SONA 2021.

Need supplies? Check out these places that deliver during lockdown.

Nurses are calling him “the miracle baby” after mother reunites with her lost baby boy.

---

Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of what’s happening in the city, ‘burbs and dorpies. Join our newsletter and get quick access on the go by adding us to your mobile home screen for the ultimate guide to discoveries in Cape Town.

Follow and like us on Twitter ❤ Facebook ❤ LinkedIn ❤ Instagram ❤ Pinterest for updates.