Alcohol allowed as SA moves to level 3
● Tobacco products still banned when lockdown eases on June 1
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in SA is 22,583, it emerged last night, with 2,690 in the Eastern Cape. There have been 429 Covid-19-related deaths in the country.
It is official, South Africans will be allowed to buy and sell alcoholic beverages on June 1 after a ban on liquor that lasted more than 60 days.
This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night as the country moves into alert level 3 of the government’s strategy to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But smokers will have to wait a little longer as tobacco products remain banned.
The Sunday Times reported on Sunday that the National Command Council had lifted the ban on the sale and transportation of alcohol, and that a group of ministers, led by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, had recommended that the tobacco ban remain.
However, the lifting of the alcohol ban comes with conditions as only home consumption will be allowed.
Jogging would now also be allowed at any time of the day as long as it was not done in groups, Ramaphosa said.
While several restrictions have been lifted, some will remain in place, including the continued closure of taverns, bars and restaurants unless for the delivery and collection of cooked food.
All mass gatherings, such as sporting events and church services, will remain prohibited.
“Alcohol will be sold for home consumption, only under strict conditions on specified days and for limited hours,” Ramaphosa said.
“Announcements in this regard will be made once we have concluded discussions with the sector.
“The sale of tobacco products will remain prohibited in alert level 3 due to the health risks associated with smoking.
“All gatherings will remain prohibited except for funerals, with no more than 50 people.
“Any place open to the public, work, cultural, sporting, entertainment, recreational, exhibition and organisational or where similar activities may take place will remain closed.”
Ramaphosa said though the number of Covid-19 infections was still expected to rise, the country could not remain on lockdown indefinitely.
He said it was time to strike the balance between the virus and the economic and social impact it was having.
Manufacturing, mining, construction, financial, services, professional and business services, information technology, communications, government services and media services would be allowed to go back to work under level 3.
However, employers were advised to take the necessary precautions, including basic hygiene and social distancing.
Daily screening of those returning to work will also be compulsory while employers will have to quarantine those who get infected and assist in contact tracing.
But not all employees can go back to work, even in the industries that will open full-time.
Those aged 60 and older, as well as staff with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cancer and pneumonia, have been advised to continue working from home.
“Companies will need to put in place, sanitary and social distancing measures, and facilities, they will need to screen workers on arrival each day, quarantine those who may be infected and make arrangements for them to be tested,” Ramaphosa said.
“They also need to assist with contact tracing if employees test positive because of their vulnerability, or staff who are older than 60 years of age, and those who suffer from underlying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer should ideally stay at home.”