Restaurants, hairdressers and casinos to reopen
President Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced that several business sectors, including restaurants and hairdressers, would be allowed to reopen.
He was addressing the nation on developments in SA’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19.
Ramaphosa’s address follows meetings of the cabinet, the national coronavirus command council and the presidential co-ordinating council.
He said the disease had caused huge disruption to the lives of people and threatened the livelihoods of millions.
But he expressed optimism following what he deemed a “breakthrough” because of the discovery of an existing drug, discovered by the Oxford University in London, which could assist in the treatment of the disease.
The drug, dexamethasone, is also manufactured in SA.
“It has been recommended that this drug be used on patients on ventilators and those on oxygen supply,” Ramaphosa said.
Since the start of the outbreak, there have been 80,412 cases recorded in SA, with 55% recoveries recorded.
The country has 34,000 active cases and 1,674 deaths.
Ramaphosa said the pandemic was a global economic crisis, severely disrupting the livelihoods of millions.
He said he had previously indicated the government would look at ways to help some business sectors open up.
This was why the government had decided to ease lockdown restrictions in the following sectors: restaurants for sit-down meals, accredited and licensed accommodation, conferences and meetings for business purposes, cinemas and theatres — aligned to limitations on the gathering of people — casinos, personal care services, including hairdressers and beauty services, and noncontact sport, while contact sports will be allowed to train.
Ramaphosa said violence against women and children in SA was another pandemic, adding that 21 women and children had been murdered in recent weeks.
● The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 80,412, it was announced late last night. There are 11,919 confirmed cases in the Eastern Cape. To date, there have been 1,674 Covid-19-related deaths in SA