Covid-19: South Africa further tightens restrictions for 14 days! [update]

update (30 June 2021): South Africa's lockdown rules governing Alert Level 4 have been updated. According to an 8-page amendment from co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and other accommodation establishments are allowed again to use full capacity of the available rooms", as long as patrons keep social distance, and keep their masks on, when they are in shared spaces.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in an address to the nation on 27 June 2021 that the country will tighten Covid-19 restrictions for 14 days (adjusted alert level 4). This is due to sharp rise of infections with the Delta variant of the corona virus in South Africa. As of 27 June 2021, the Delta variant has been detected in five of South Africa's provinces, namely the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. According to the President, the Delta variant is rapidly displacing the Beta variant, which has been dominant in the country until now.

The following measures (adjusted alert level 4) are in in place across South Africa from today, 28 June 2021 to 11 July 2021:

• All gatherings – whether indoors or outdoors – are prohibited. These include religious, political, cultural and social gatherings.
• Funerals and cremations are permitted, but attendance may not exceed 50 people and all social distancing and health protocols must be observed.
• Night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are not allowed.
• Public spaces, such as beaches and parks, will remain open. However, no gatherings will be permitted.
• A curfew will be in place from 21:00 to 04:00, and all non-essential establishments will need to close by 20:00.
• The sale of alcohol both for on-site and off-site consumption is prohibited. South Africa's Ministerial Advisory Committee has advised that the limited restrictions previously imposed were not that effective and that a prohibition will ease the pressure that is placed on hospital services by alcohol-related emergency incidents.
• Because of the burden of infections in Gauteng, travel in and out of the province for leisure purposes will be prohibited. This does not include work, business or commercial travel, transit through airports or for the transport of goods. If you are currently not in your place of residence, you will be allowed to return home to or from Gauteng.
• Visits to old age homes, care facilities and other ‘congregant settings’ is restricted.
• Restaurants and other eateries are only permitted to sell food for take-away or delivery. This is because it is not possible for patrons to wear masks while eating or drinking in these establishments.

The closure of schools and other educational institutions for the winter holidays will be brought forward. Schools will start closing from this Wednesday, 30 June 2021, and all schools will be expected to be closed by the end of the week, on Friday.
Contact classes at tertiary institutions will end by 30 June 2021, with limited access to the institutions. Residences will however remain open. The Ministers of Basic Education and Higher Education, Science and Innovation will provide further details on these arrangements.