It has been over one year since the dreaded Coronavirus hit the South African shores, plunging the country into a National State of Disaster and socio-economic upheaval. On Tuesday, 30 March, ahead of the Easter weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosasaid that South Africa has made progress in bringing the pandemic under control. He announced that the country will remain on coronavirus Alert Level 1, with a few adjustments.
Ramaphosa said: “For the second year in a row, we will again have to limit our interactions, particularly during the Easter period. We are still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.We must act with caution, not just this coming weekend but in the days, weeks and months ahead.”
He explained that South Africa has emerged from a second wave of infections with 1.5 million plus coronavirus cases and more than 52,000 Covid-19 deaths. However, for the past two weeks, the number of new cases has remained stable at around 1,200 new cases per day with a decline in the number of hospitalisations and the number of deaths. The national recovery rate stands at over 95 percent.
Vaccination
Ramaphosa said that the national vaccination programme will be gaining momentum.
Phase 1: Commenced in the middle of February, vaccinating health workers and to be completed within three months. More than 250,000 health workers have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as part of the Sisonke trial. 11 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been secured, which is effective against the dominant variants in SA. A further 20 million doses have been secured. An agreement for 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses, is being finalized. Together, this supply of vaccines doses will vaccinate 41 million people. SA is in various stages of negotiations with the manufacturers of other vaccines such as Sinovac, Sinopharmand Sputnik V as well as allocations of doses through the African Union initiative.
Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout will begin in May with priority given to those at the highest risk, such as people over 60 and people living with co-morbidities.
Vaccine Registration
Registration is scheduled to start in April with on-lineregistrations, but those without on-line access will be able toregister in person. Over 2,000 vaccination sites have beenidentified such as general practitioners’ rooms, community clinics, pharmacies and retail outlets.
An Electronic Vaccination Data System will manage the vaccine rollout and direct people towards vaccination sites closest to where they live. The system will allow you to register, receive an appointment date and site, and receive a digital certificate or a hard copy confirming the vaccination status once vaccinated.Everyone that will be vaccinated will have to be registered on the system first. Mechanisms to identify and register undocumented persons are being identified.
“While the rate of transmission remains stable, we cannot let our guard down. Over the annual Easter break, greater movement of people, interprovincial travel, greater use of public transit and gatherings present a great risk of an increase in infections,” said Ramaphosa.
The country will remain on coronavirus Alert Level 1, with a few adjustments:
• Curfew maintained from midnight to 4am.
• Beaches, parks and dams remain open, subject to strict health protocols, such as social distancing, mask-wearing.
• Funerals restricted to a maximum of 100 people, with a two-hour limit on services.
• Interprovincial travel permitted however limited travel is urged.
• The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption will be prohibited on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (2-5 April)
• On-site sales at restaurants, shebeens and bars will be allowed, according to licensing conditions, up until 11pm.
• Religious gatherings restricted to 250 people indoors and 500 outdoors. No more than 50 percent venue capacity may be used. Congregants should not gather outside their place of worship nor sleep over after services.
• Gatherings restricted to a maximum of 250 indoors and 500 outdoors. No more than 50 percent of venue capacity.
Ramaphosa said that measures on the size of gatherings will be reviewed within the next 15 days. The situation will be monitored for any signs of resurgence.
