South Africa Sets Level 2 Lockdown, Loosening Some Limits

ADF STAFF

With COVID-19 infections across Southern Africa declining, South Africa’s leadership has relaxed some social restrictions put in place midyear to fight the third wave of infections.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the shift to level 2 restrictions in mid-September after consultations between the national cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC).

“While the third wave is not yet over, we have seen a sustained decline in infections across the country over the last few weeks,” Ramaphosa said during a national broadcast.

The decision brings South Africa back to the position it held at the end of May just before the third wave began. The third wave peaked in early July and, despite a slight bump in late August, has declined steadily since.

The country’s average daily infection rate fell 29% in the two weeks leading up to Ramaphosa’s announcement. Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, South Africa has reported nearly 3 million cases and more than 86,000 deaths.

Ramaphosa said public health officials would look more closely at Northern Cape and Free State provinces where infection rates, while falling, remain higher than elsewhere in the country.

Even as South Africa’s third wave declines, the country is watching the highly mutated C.1.2. variant that appeared several months ago. So far, that variant accounts for less than 3% of COVID-19 cases. Other variants that have the potential to reverse South Africa’s downward infection trajectory have been reported across the continent.

As the country with the largest COVID-19 caseload, South Africa’s decline in third wave infections is helping to drive down infection rates across the region. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa’s overall infection rate was down 23% as of early September and had been falling since July. The decline was led by sharp drops in Southern Africa and North Africa.

“This is an encouraging sign,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, director of the WHO Africa regional office, on September 9. She noted, however, that the ongoing infection rate — 165,000 cases per week — is still higher than the previous wave at its peak.

South Africa’s level 2 restrictions require:

• A curfew from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
• Restaurants, bars and fitness centers closing by 10 p.m.
• Gatherings limited to 250 people inside (up from 50) and 500 people outside (up from 100).

Along with these changes, alcohol sales are allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“These measures will be reviewed in two weeks’ time depending on the state of the pandemic,” Ramaphosa said.

Although level 2 relaxes some restrictions, others remain in place, such as:

• Night vigils and post-funeral activities still are banned.
• Spectators can’t attend sporting events.
• Cruise ships are banned.

The nation’s land borders also remain closed with certain exceptions.

Ramaphosa urged South Africans to continue to wear masks and take other precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19. The goal is to avoid a fourth wave of infections during the holidays, he said.

“It needs to be emphasized that the third wave is not yet over,” Ramaphosa said. “It is only through our actions, individually and collectively, that we will be able to reduce the number of new infections.”