Covid-19: South Africa has moved to "Adjusted Alert Level 1"!

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in an address to the nation on 30 September 2021 that the country's Cabinet has decided to move South Africa from Adjusted Alert Level 2 to Adjusted Alert Level 1. According to the President, the current trends in the progression of the pandemic mean that a number of the restrictions in place can be eased, as per the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19.
The following measures, which became effective at midnight last night, will apply as part of Adjusted Alert Level 1:

• The hours of the curfew in South Africa will change, from 00:00 midnight to 04:00.
• Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 23:00 to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew.
• The maximum number of people permitted to gather indoors will increase from 250 to 750, and the maximum number of people permitted to gather outdoors will increase from 500 to 2 000.
• Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used. This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places.
• The maximum number of people permitted at a funeral will increase from 50 to 100. As before, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are not allowed.
• The sale of alcohol in South Africa – for both off-site and on-site consumption – will be permitted, according to normal licence provisions. However, no alcohol may be sold after 23:00.
• The wearing of masks in public places in South Africa is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offence.