Covid-19: The 21-day lockdown in SA and you

With the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases increasing six-fold in eight days, from 61 to 402 today, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown, starting Thursday.

Also read: South Africa goes into 21-day national lockdown

This was despite the implementation of regulations and directives since the national state of disaster was declared on March 13 when Ramaphosa announced a range of regulations and directives, including a restriction on international travel, a halt on gatherings of more than 100 people, closure of schools and other educational institutions and a restriction of alcohol sales.

President @CyrilRamaphosa briefs the nation on the Outcomes of the Special Cabinet Meeting on the #CoronaVirusSA outbreak #COVID19SA https://t.co/ihXscB28TI

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) March 15, 2020

“This number [402] will continue to rise. The next few days are crucial,” said Ramaphosa.

Also read: 402 cases of Covid-19 now confirmed in South Africa

The lockdown will be enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act.

From midnight on March 26 until midnight on April 16, all South Africans will have to stay at home.

https://www.facebook.com/GovernmentZA/videos/1061860820854297/

“People exempted from this lockdown include health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers, and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic,” said Ramaphosa.

People 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 will also be exempt from the lockdown.

Companies that are essential to the production and transportation of food, basic goods and medical supplies will also remain open.

Ramaphosa stated people will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances and for reasons such as medical care, to buy food and medicine and collect social grants.

Temporary shelters that meet the necessary hygiene standards will be identified for homeless people.

It’s lockdown for South Africa for 3 weeks! These regulations have shown a downward trend in the virus deaths and spread in Italy. It’s our only shot at fighting the #CoronavirusInSA #cyrilramaphosa

— DoctorSheenaGeness (@dr_geness) March 23, 2020

“Sites are also being identified for quarantine and self-isolation for people who cannot self-isolate at home.”

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 which require continuous processes, such as furnaces and underground mine operations will be required to make arrangements for care and maintenance to avoid damage to their continuous operations.

All emergency services will still be available during the national lockdown to provide for the health and safety of all South Africans. #lockdown #COVID19SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/eclfp5Cm3r

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) March 23, 2020

“Firms that are able to continue their operations remotely should do so.”

Provision will be made for essential transport services to continue, including transport for essential staff and for patients who need to be managed elsewhere.

The South African National Defence Force has been deployed to support the SAPS in ensuring adherence to the lockdown measures.

Also read: SANDF spotted on Johannesburg streets ahead of Ramaphosa’s speech

Health management programme

This nationwide lockdown will be accompanied by a public health management programme which will increase screening, testing, contact tracing and medical management.

Community health teams will focus on expanding screening and testing where people live, focusing first on high-density and high-risk areas.

“Emergency water supplies, using water storage tanks, water tankers, boreholes and communal standpipes are being provided to informal settlements and rural areas.”

Those employed in jobs and services that are deemed to be essential to safeguard citizens and their well-being will continue working during the national lockdown. #lockdown #COVID19SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/vtJ34P0PQH

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) March 23, 2020

Additional measures implemented to strengthen prevention include:

• South African citizens and residents arriving from high-risk countries will automatically be placed under quarantine for 14 days.
•  Non-South Africans arriving on flights from high-risk countries who were prohibited a week ago will be turned back.
•  International flights to Lanseria Airport will be temporarily suspended.
•  International travellers who arrived in South Africa after March 9 from high-risk countries will be confined to their hotels until they have completed a 14-day period of quarantine.

Economy

“As we marshal our every resource and our every energy to fight this epidemic, working together with business, we are putting in place measures to mitigate the economic impact of this disease and of our economic response to it.”

Interventions to “cushion” economic difficulties include support to the vulnerable. Consultation with social partners saw the establishment of a Solidarity Fund, www.solidarityfund.co.za

SA businesses, organisations and individuals and members of the international community were urged to contribute to the fund chaired by Gloria Serobe and the deputy chairperson, Adrian Enthoven.

“The fund will focus efforts to combat the spread of the virus, help to track the spread, care for those who are ill and support those whose lives are disrupted.

“You can begin to deposit monies into the account tonight. To get things moving, government is providing seed capital of R150-million and the private sector has already pledged to support this fund with financial contributions in the coming period. We must applaud the commitment made in this time of crisis by the Rupert and Oppenheimer families of R1-billion each to assist small businesses and their employees affected by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Also read: Covid-19 FAQ – NICD answers your questions

Price hikes

Ramaphosa warned businesses that sell goods at excessively high prices. He issued the warning after a recent announcement that regulations were put in place to prohibit unjustified price hikes, to ensure shops maintain adequate stocks of basic goods and to prevent people from ‘panic buying’.

“It is important for all South Africans to understand that the supply of goods remains continuous and supply chains remain intact.

” Government has had discussions with manufacturers and distributors of basic necessities, who have indicated that there will be a continuous supply of these goods. There is therefore no need for stockpiling of any items.”

To alleviate congestion at payment points, old age pensions and disability grants will be available for collection from March 30 and 31 while other categories of grants will be available for collection from April 1.

“All channels for access will remain open, including ATMs, retail point of sale devices, post offices and cash pay points.”

Employment

“We are going to support people whose livelihoods will be affected. We are in consultation on a proposal for a special dispensation for companies that are in distress because of Covid-19. Through this proposal employees will receive wage payment through the Temporary Employee Relief Scheme, which will enable companies to pay employees directly during this period and avoid retrenchment.”

Any employee who falls ill through exposure at their workplace will be paid through the Compensation Fund.

Commercial banks have been exempted from provisions of the Competition Act to enable them to develop common approaches to debt relief and other necessary measures.

“We have met with all the major banks and expect that most banks will put measures in place within the next few days. Many large companies that are currently closed have accepted their responsibility to pay workers affected. We call on larger businesses in particular to take care of their workers during this period.”

“In the event that it becomes necessary, we will utilise the reserves within the UIF system to extend support to those workers in SMEs and other vulnerable firms which are faced with loss of income and whose companies are unable to provide support.

“We are assisting businesses that may be in distress. Using the tax system, we will provide a tax subsidy of up to R500 per month for the next four months for those private sector employees earning below R6 500 under the Employment Tax Incentive. This will help over four million workers.”

Also read: Rand Aid announces measures to protect senior citizens from Covid-19

SARS

The South African Revenue Service will also work towards accelerating the payment of employment tax incentive reimbursements from twice a year to monthly to get cash into the hands of compliant employers as soon as possible.

Tax-compliant businesses with a turnover of less than R50-million will be allowed to delay 20 per cent of their pay-as-you-earn liabilities over the next four months and a portion of their provisional corporate income tax payments without penalties or interest over the next six months. This intervention is expected to assist over 75 000 small- and medium-size enterprises.

Ramaphosa announced that the Department of Small Business Development has made over R500-million available immediately to assist small and medium enterprises that are in distress through a simplified application process.

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