South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on the country’s Covid-19 response.
He began his address by explaining the broadcast had been delayed in order to allow for the viewing of, a legend of South African broadcasting, Noxolo Grootboom’s last isiXhosa bulletin.
“I wish to pay tribute to Ms Grootboom as an outstanding journalist who, throughout her distinguished career, brought historic events in our country and across the world into the living rooms of our nation.”
The president related some of the struggles and triumphs experienced in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What has perhaps been most difficult of all is how the pandemic has affected the social interactions that make us feel part of a community. We miss the many things we once took for granted, like being able to visit our loved ones, go to a party, or attend religious services.”
He said that, for the past two weeks, the number of new cases has remained relatively stable at around 1,200 new cases per day.
“The number of hospitalisations is declining, as is the number of deaths. Our national recovery rate stands at slightly higher than 95 percent.”
Ramaphosa also gave an update on the national vaccination programme, which he said is gaining momentum.
He said the first phase of the vaccination programme, targetting healthcare workers, would be completed within three months.
“We have secured 11 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which we know to be effective against the dominant variants in our country. We have secured a further 20 million doses and are finalising the agreement with Johnson & Johnson.
“We are also finalising an agreement for 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses. Together, this supply of vaccines will provide us with enough doses to vaccinate 41 million people,” he said.
Ramaphosa also said government is currently negotiating with manufacturers of other vaccines, including the Sinovac, Sinopharm and Sputnik V.
“In addition to the vaccine doses we will receive directly through our agreements with manufacturers, we will also receive an allocation of vaccine doses through the African Union initiative that we established when we held the Chairship of the AU.”
The president also gave an update on the regulations instituted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 ahead of the Easter weekend.
Given relatively low transmission levels, the country will remain on Alert Level 1.
Adjustments to the restrictions are as follows:
The national curfew remains from midnight to 4am.
Public recreational spaces such as beaches, parks and dams will remain open, 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.
“However, I urge all South Africans to limit their travel as much as possible and to observe all the necessary health protocols if they cannot avoid travelling,” Ramaphosa said.
The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption will be prohibited on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 2 to 5 April.
On-site sales at restaurants, shebeens and bars will be allowed, according to licensing conditions, up until 11pm.
Religious gatherings over the Easter period will be restricted to a total number of 250 people indoors and 500 outdoors.
Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used.
Congregants should not gather outside their usual places of worship, and people must go home and not sleep over after services.
“We will review these measures on the size of gatherings within the next 15 days based on an assessment on the state of the pandemic and the extent of compliance with health protocols,” added Ramaphosa.
