The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday eased Covid-19 restrictions to the lowest level citing the decrease in coronavirus infections.
In a televised address, Ramaphosa announced the country would move down one level in a five-tier system of restrictions, where five is the highest, to an “adjusted level 1.” He said:
The current trends in the progression of the pandemic mean that a number of the restrictions in place can be eased.
Ramaphosa also relaxed a curfew, now in place from midnight to 4 AM.
He announced that the maximum number of people permitted to gather outdoors will increase to 2 000 from 500, while the maximum number of people allowed at funerals could double to 100.
However, with local government elections set for November 1, Ramaphosa urged people to get vaccinated to help prevent a resurgence of infections, as vaccine hesitancy crimped an inoculation programme that has struggled to get out of the starting blocks.
Ramaphosa also indicated that around 8.6 million people, or more than one-fifth of all adults, have been fully vaccinated
South Africa’s third wave appears now officially over, with new cases falling from over 20 000 a day during the wave’s peak to an average of just over 1 800 per day over the last seven days.
South Africa set itself a target of administering between 300 000 and 400 000 doses a day but has been averaging around 150 000 daily in recent weeks.
Ramaphosa also said the government would introduce a national vaccine certificate, possibly giving notice that businesses, places of worship and bars and restaurants might soon require a vaccine certificate for entry.
More: ZimLive