South Africa: COVID-19 Restrictions Relaxed

South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced on Sunday evening, 25 July, that the nation will lower lockdown restrictions as coronavirus infections start to ease.

Ramaphosa gave a televised address noting the government’s efforts to combat COVID-19, saying that the country was past the worst of the recent increase in new cases.

He said: “The latest figures suggest that we have largely passed the peak of the third wave of infections.”

His cabinet decided that the country will move from Level 4 to Level 3. The new lockdown regulations allows all schools and universities to open the following day; masks remain mandatory; inter-provincial travel is allowed; and the night-time curfew has changed to 10PM to 4AM.

The ban on alcohol is lifted – retailers are once again able to sell for off-site consumption between 10AM and 6PM on Monday to Thursday. Restaurants, bars and clubs may sell alcohol on their respective premises until 8PM, as they must close by 9PM.

South Africa has2 377 823 confirmed cases of the virus – 2 158 183 citizens have recovered so far, but 69 775 people have died.