Twenty-one days lockdown to fight the coronavirus
WITH 402 Covid-19 cases by Monday evening, President Cyril Ramaposa has announced a lockdown in South Africa,
In his address to the nation, he said the nationwide lockdown will be enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act and will be in force from midnight on Thursday, 26 March, until midnight on Thursday, 16 April.
During this time, all South Africans will have to stay at home.
Exemptions
Health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services (police, traffic officers, military and medical personnel) and other persons necessary for responding to the pandemic, will be exempted from the lockdown.
Als exempted will be those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services, laboratory services, and the provision of medical and hygiene products.
Shops closed
All shops and businesses will be closed, except for pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial and payment services, including the JSE, supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers.
Companies that are essential to the production and transportation of food, basic goods and medical supplies will remain open.
Individuals will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances, such as to seek medical care, buy food, medicine and other supplies or collect a social grant.