Curfew, booze restrictions to curb covid-19 surge
TAKING ACTION: Prez Cyril Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Nelson Mandela Bay a hotspot and the region will face restrictions due to rising Coronavirus infections over the last 14 days.
Covid-19 cases have risen in the country, especially in Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape - with the Garden Route region most affected.
The president said restrictions in Nelson Mandela Bay will come into effect today.
A curfew will be implemented from 10pm to 4am - only permitted workers will be allowed outside their homes during the curfew.
Non-essential establishments including bars and restaurants should be closed during the curfew.
He announced restrictions on alcohol trading hours in the province with alcohol only being sold from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 6pm.
No on-site consumption will be permitted at licensed establishments after 10pm and no consumption will be permitted in public spaces.
Gatherings will also be limited. Religious gatherings may not exceed 50% of venue capacity - with a maximum of 100 people indoors and 250 people outside.
He said summer initiation practices could go ahead but not in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The country recorded 4173 new Coronavirus cases on Wednesday - a jump from 2295 cases reported on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa said there were concerns that many people were not following healthcare protocols such as wearing masks with various parties being held in different areas.
He said hospital admissions were on the rise and he warned that South Africans should do better and “we should not go back to the dark days of June, July”.