Following an announcement on Saturday evening, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has gazetted the regulations under Alert Level 2 of the national lockdown.

The new regulations give South Africans a bit more freedom, but with that, a lot more responsibility. With that having been said, a national curfew between the hours of 22:00 and 04:00 is in effect everyday unless a person has the appropriate paperwork.

A cloth face mask or covering is still a requirement when a person is in a public space or making use of public transport. The mask must go over your nose and mouth people, this nonsense that we see with masks on a person’s chin needs to stop. It’s a cloth mask not a fire curtain preventing John from hearing you on the phone.

In terms of gatherings there are a few notable additions.

Weddings are now permitted, though attendance is limited to 50 persons.

The same number of people can also attend a concert or other entertainment events, as well as conferences.

Social gatherings at a place of residence are also allowed, though these will be limited to 10 people at a time.

For all of the above gatherings, yes, even those in your home, masks should be worn to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Other places now open to the public include:

• Fitness centres and gyms (limited to 50 people at a time)
• Sports grounds and fields (international sport is still not allowed and no spectators are permitted to watch games live)
• Swimming pools (limited to 50 people at a time)
• Beaches and public parks
• Museums, galleries, libraries and archives
• Personal care services
• Restaurants
• Bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments (limited to 50 people at a time)
• All accommodation establishments (limited to 50 percent of floor space)

Night clubs remain closed under Alert Level 2.

Fancy a tipple?

Now for the real reason you are here – the booze and tobacco ban.

Alcohol may be sold for off-site consumption from Mondays to Thursdays between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00. No alcohol may be sold or transported between Thursday evening and Monday morning.

Interestingly, restaurants are not beholden to the same restrictions.

Seemingly the only restriction applied to restaurants as regards the sale of alcohol is the daily curfew.

As regards tobacco products, while not explicitly mentioned, tobacco and related products have been removed from the Specific Economic Exclusions table.

Work and travelling for work

Government has requested that anybody able to work from home continue to do so. However, there are no limitations on those who need to travel to and from work or indeed for work.

The regulations ask that businesses with more than 100 employees working on the same floor make arrangements to minimise the number of workers on the floor.

Appropriate measures must also be implemented for employees who are over the age of 60 and those with co-morbidities.

As for public transport, capacity is limited to 70 percent for long-distance trips. Here, long distance means a distance of 200km.

Government says that 100 percent capacity is permitted for trips not considered long distance.

You can find the regulations embedded below.

[Image – CC 0 Pixabay]