Covid-19: South Africa has introduced changes to its Adjusted Alert Level 1 lockdown regulations!

South Africa implemented a five-level Covid-19 alert system in April 2020 to manage the gradual easing of the nationwide lockdown, which was introduced on 27 March 2020. This risk-adjusted approach is guided by several criteria, including the level of infections and rate of transmission, the capacity of health facilities, the extent of the implementation of public health interventions and the economic and social impact of continued restrictions. South Africa is currently on Adjusted Alert Level 1 (since 01 October 2022). The Cabinet of South Africa yesterday (31 January 2022) approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 Covid-19 regulations. This follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) which received updates on the management of Covid-19 in South Africa. Based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the levels of vaccination in the country, the Cabinet has decided to make the following changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect: 

• Those who test positive with no symptoms do not have to isolate.  
• If you test positive with symptoms, the isolation period has been reduced from 10 to 7 days.
• Contacts do not have to isolate unless they develop symptoms.  

The Cabinet of South Africa also reviewed the resumption of schooling to full-time learning in all schools. Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision for social distancing of 1 meter for learners in schools has also been removed.

Covid-19: South Africa has introduced changes to its Adjusted Alert Level 1 lockdown regulations!

South Africa implemented a five-level Covid-19 alert system in April 2020 to manage the gradual easing of the nationwide lockdown, which was introduced on 27 March 2020. This risk-adjusted approach is guided by several criteria, including the level of infections and rate of transmission, the capacity of health facilities, the extent of the implementation of public health interventions and the economic and social impact of continued restrictions. South Africa is currently on Adjusted Alert Level 1 (since 01 October 2022). As of 30 December 2021, the Cabinet of South Africa has decided to make the following changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect:

• The curfew has been lifted for now. There are therefore no restrictions on the hours of movement of people.
• Gatherings are restricted to no more than 1 000 people indoors and no more than 2 000 people outdoors. 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. All other restrictions remain in place.
• Alcohol establishments that have licences to operate beyond 23:00 will revert back to full licence conditions.

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.

Covid-19: South Africa remains on Alert Level 1 with a few adjustments!

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in a national address on progress in the national effort to contain the Covid-19 pandemic on 30 March 2021 that South Africa will remain on Alert Level 1, with a few adjustments. According to the President, these adjustments are necessary due to specific circumstances of the Easter period, that will lead to increased travel as South African travel for holiday and religious purposes, as well as gatherings. The following regulations will be introduced:

• The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption will be prohibited this coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (02 April 2021 - 05 April 2021).
• On-site sales at restaurants, shebeens and bars will be allowed, according to licensing conditions, up until 23:00.

Some of the measures to contain the spread of the corona virus that will remain unchanged are as follows:

• The curfew is maintained from midnight to 04:00.
• Public recreational spaces such as beaches, parks and dams will remain open.
• However, this will continue to be subject to strict health protocols, such as social distancing, mask-wearing.
• Funerals remain restricted to a maximum of 100 people and with a two-hour limit on services. Interprovincial travel will still be permitted.

All South Africans are urged to limit their travel as much as possible and to observe all the necessary health protocols if they cannot avoid travelling.

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

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in a national address on the national effort to contain the Covid-19 pandemic on 28 February 2021 that South Africa will move from Level 3 to Level 1 of the country's Risk Adjusted Strategy. The new alert level has come into effect on 28 February 2021. The country's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has in the meantime published a new Government Gazette (Regulation Gazette No. 11246, Vol. 668, No. 44201, 28 February 2021) that confirms the move to lockdown level 1, and the changes to some restrictions.

• The hours of the curfew is now from 00:00 to 04:00.
• Gatherings are permitted, subject to limitations on size, adherence to social distancing and other health protocols.
• These include religious, social, political and cultural gatherings.
• The maximum number of people allowed at any gathering is 100 people indoors or 250 people outdoors.
• 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.
• Night vigils or other gatherings before or after funerals are still not permitted.
• Nightclubs will remain closed.
• The sale of alcohol is permitted, according to normal licence provisions. However, no alcohol may be sold during the hours of curfew.
• The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offence.
• The 33 land border posts that have been closed throughout this period will remain closed, while the other 20 will remain open.
• Only five airports will be open for international travel with standard infection control measures.
• These are OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) in Nelspruit and Lanseria International Airport (HLA) in Johannesburg.
• The few remaining restrictions under Alert Level 1 are meant to maintain low levels of infections and, in particular, to prevent super-spreading events.

South Africa: Update on the current lockdown level 1 restrictions!

South Africa's Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has published a new Government Gazette (Vol. 666 No. 44009, 17 December 2020) which provides further clarity around South Africa's new lockdown rules for the festive season 2020/21 (also see Government Gazette Vol. 666 No. 43997, 15 December 2020).
Hotels, lodges, bed & breakfasts, timeshare facilites, resorts and guest houses are allowed full capacity of the available rooms for accommodation, with patrons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other when in common spaces. Conferencing, dining, entertainment and bar facilities are subject to a limitation of a maximum of 100 persons or less in case of an indoor gathering and 250 persons or less in case of an outdoor gathering. Loud music, whether live or otherwise, is prohibited.

Registered wineries and wine farms are allowed to continue to operate in offering wine-tastings and selling of wine to the public for off-site consumption, subject to strict adherence to the curfew and adherence to social distancing measures and health protocols.
In hotspot areas (Sarah Baartman District, Garden Route District and Nelson Mandela Bay), the closing time for the following establishments, wether indoors or outdoors, is 21:00 daily:

• Faith-based institutions
• Venues where social events are hosted
• Venues hosting concerts and five performances
• Cinemas
• Theatres
• Casinos
• Museums, galleries and archives
• Gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools
• Restaurants, bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments
• Venues hosting sport, arts and culture activities
• Any other place where a gathering may take place

South Africa: Tougher Coronavirus COVID-19 Alert level 1 restrictions this festive season

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced tighter level 1 lockdown restrictions nationwide, with effect from midnight on 14 December 2020. This as South Africa enters the festive season amid a second wave of rising COVID-19 infections. These festive season restrictions will be reviewed in early January 2021 based on the state of the pandemic across the country. As of 14 December 2020, South Africa's cumulative number of cases of Covid-19 stands at 866,127, edging closer to the 900 000 mark. President Ramaphosa announced the following restrictions:

• Beaches and public parks in the Eastern Cape and in the Garden Route district in the Western Cape will be closed for the duration of the festive season from 16 December 2020 to 03 January 2021.
• In KwaZulu-Natal, beaches and public parks will be closed on 16, 25, 26 & 31 December 2020 and on 01 - 03 January 2021.
• The beaches and public parks of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape – with the exception of the Garden Route – will remain open to the public over the festive season.
• Festivals, live music, and live performances at beaches are prohibited countrywide.
• Beaches and parks that are open to the public will only be open between 09:00 and 18:00.
• Ramaphosa also said: "In instances, where there are large crowds or poor compliance with safety measures, specific beaches and recreational parks will be closed".

• The new curfew is starting countrywide at 23:00 and ending at 04:00.
• Hours of curfew will also apply to Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
• Non-essential establishments, including restaurants and bars, will have to close at 22:00 so that staff and patrons can get home before the enforcement of the curfew.

• The sale of alcohol from retail outlets will only be permitted between 10:00 and 18:00 from Monday to Thursday.
• Registered wineries and wine farms may continue to offer tastings and wine sales to the public for off-site consumption over weekends.
• Alcohol consumption in all public spaces, such as beaches and parks, is strictly forbidden.

• Gatherings – including religious gatherings – may not be attended by more than 100 people for indoor events and 250 for outdoor events.
• The total number of people in a venue may not exceed more than 50% of the capacity of the venue.
• Due to the potential for transmission, all post-funeral gatherings, including ‘after-tears’ parties, are prohibited.

• Under the tighter level 1 restrictions, drivers and operators of any form of public transport must ensure that all passengers wear a mask.
• Managers or owners of buildings, places or premises – including retail stores, shopping centres, and government buildings – are obliged by law to ensure that all customers who enter their facilities or buildings wear a mask.
• Responsible individuals who do not ensure compliance with the regulations by their passengers, customers or employees will be liable to a fine or to imprisonment of up to six months.

South Africa reopens its borders for international travellers from medium-risk and low-risk countries! [update]

update (01 October 2020): The Government of South Africa encourages the international travellers who intend to visit South Africa to download the COVID Alert SA app on their smartphones so that they are able to monitor and minimise their risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus. 

update (01 October 2020): South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has released an official list of countries currently rated as "high risk". The list will be reviewed every fortnight. Travellers from the following countries are not permitted to enter South Africa:
Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Suriname, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Emirates, United Kingdom, USA and Venezuela.

update (30 September 2020): According to media reports from South Africa, the following countries are currently regarded as "high risk": Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, St Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom, The United States of America, Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
According to other sources, the following countries are on South Africa's "banned leisure travel list": Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Faroe Islands, France, French Polynesia, Georgia, Gibraltar, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nepal, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Palau, Paraguay, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, St Marteen, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
We'll update the list as soon as an offical "high-risk country list" is available.The "banned leisure travel list" itself will be reviewed regularly.

South Africa's borders will gradually open for international travel for business, leisure and other travel on 01 October 2020. The reopening is guided by the communique published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Public Health on considerations for international travel on 30 July 2020. South Africa will open its three major airports (OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban) for international travellers, as well as 18 land borders to allow ease of travel from African countries. 

International travellers:

The Government of South Africa has developed a risk categorisation model for different international travellers. This model classifies international travellers according to a scale of high risk, medium risk and low risk. Travellers from high-risk countries (countries with higher numbers of Covid-19 infections and reported deaths compared to South Africa) will not be permitted to enter South Africa. The exception will be business travellers with scarce and critical skills including diplomats, repatriated persons, investors and people participating in professional sporting and cultural events will undergo the same health protocol screenings.
Travellers from medium-risk countries (countries with relatively equal number of infections of Covid-19 and death toll to South Africa) and travellers from low-risk countries (countries with lesser number of infections of Covid-19 and death toll than South Africa) are allowed to enter South Africa.
If the passport of the traveller from a high-risk country indicates that he/she has spent 10 days or more in a low risk country before departure, he/she will be considered to be arriving from a low risk country.
Travellers from medium-risk countries and low-risk countries will only be allowed into the country subject to the prevailing visa requirements.
Airlines from hig- risk countries are not necessarily banned, but their crew will be required to isolate in facilities at designated accommodation at the cost of their employer.
Long term visa holders who visit South Africa for business purposes will be allowed to travel to South Africa These travellers will also be subject to health screenings for Covid-19 symptoms at the port of entry.  
South Africa reserves the right to deny entry of any traveller who is travelling from a high-risk country for tourism purposes.

International travellers permitted to visit South Africa will be expected to produce a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that is not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa. This test must be conducted by a certified medical practitioner and should have the name and signature of the practitioner who conducted such test.
Upon arrival in the port of entry, travellers will be screened for any Covid-19 symptoms or for contact with people who have been infected with Covid-19.
Travellers will also need to provide proof of accommodation address should they need to  self-quarantine at the time of arrival in South Africa.
Should travellers display any Covid-19–related symptoms or been in contact with an infected person(s), they will be expected to take a mandatory Covid-19 test.  This test will be at the traveller’s cost. If the Covid-19 test comes back positive, travellers will be subjected to a 10 day quarantine at a designated site. The accommodation at a quarantine site will be at the traveller’s cost.
Travellers are also required to possess a travel insurance which is supposed to cover the Covid-19 test and quarantine cost.

African travellers:

Travellers from all African countries are allowed to enter South Africa, but must possess relevant travel documents. African travellers will also be screened for Covid-19 symptoms.

Sea Ports:

To facilitate ease of transportation of goods and medicines to and from South Africa at sea ports, ships will be allowed to dock, load and off-load cargo. Crew members from the cargo ships will be allowed to crew changes. These crew members will also be medically screened for Covid-19 symptoms. Passenger liners for luxury travel are still not allowed to dock and off-load passengers. [src.]

South Africa to welcome international travellers again from 01 October 2020! [update]

update (16 September 2020): King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban will also reopen for international air travel from 01 October 2020. Travellers will only be able to use those land border posts that have remained operational during the lockdown.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa just announced during a televised address to the nation that South Africa will reopen its borders with effect from 01 October 2020. The country's two main airports, OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, will reopen for international air travel and will welcome travellers from 01 October 2020.

Please note that international travel may be restricted to and from certain countries that are deemed high risk. A list of countries will be published based on the latest scientific data. International travellers must meet the following requirements to ensure safety:

• On arrival, travellers will need to present a negative Covid-19 test result not older than 72 hours from time of departure.
• All travellers will be screened on arrival and those presenting with symptoms will be required to have a Covid-19 test.
• Where necessary travellers will need to enter mandatory quarantine facilities at their own cost
• Travellers will be asked to download the "Covid Alert South Africa" mobile app for smartphones.

We'll keep you posted!