South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday placed the country back under alert lockdown level two to counter the surge of Covid-19.
Addressing the nation in a television broadcast, Ramaphosa said some of the provinces including Gauteng had already reached the third wave. He said infections have reached concerning levels.
The address follows meetings in recent days between Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council, and the president’s coordinating council.
“Further restrictions are necessary to ensure that health facilities are not overwhelmed and that lives that could be saved are not lost,” said Ramaphosa
Alert level 2 includes limits on numbers of people during gatherings and a return of a curfew from 11 pm to 4 am.
Indoor and outdoor gatherings have been limited as well. Only 100 people may gather indoors and a maximum of 250 outdoors.
The president warned that not wearing a mask remained an offence.
He said South Africa has in the meantime embarked on its “biggest vaccination programme”.
At least 60 000 health workers have had the Johson and Johnson Jab.
“Delaying the spread of the virus is especially important now to allow as many people as possible to be vaccinated before the third wave peaks,” said Ramaphosa.
All in all, nearly a million people have had a Covid-19 vaccination.
