Tips to enjoy beach visits, dining out safely under Covid-19 level 2 lockdown

SOUTH Africa enters the first day of Level 2 of the national lockdown on Tuesday and new regulations has come into effect.

The citizens can now legally have 10 visitors at home and buy alcohol and cigarettes.

The sale of liquor by licensed premises is permitted from 9am to 5pm, from Mondays to Thursdays. However, the sale of liquor is prohibited on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

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ER24 spokeswoman, Ineke van Huyssteen said as the country prepares for life after lockdown, the responsibility of reducing the risk of being infected or infecting other people with Covid-19 rests with everyone.

“It is now more important than ever to stay safe and do our best to prevent or minimise the risk of new outbreaks of Covid-19.”

Van Huyssteen said we need to continue following infection prevention and control guidelines.

“These include washing our hands regularly and properly with soap and water for 20 seconds according to the hand hygiene protocols, social distancing and universal masking,” she said.

Van Huyssteen advised people to plan for their visit to places or shops, especially where crowds of people will gather, especially if you are in the vulnerable groups of society.

Restaurants:
When going to a restaurant, please try and check their website or social media to establish whether they have posted any updates and precaution measures to address Covid-19.

• Should the restaurant have a temporary register of customers, ensure that you complete it.
• Continue to wear a mask when you are less than 1.5 meters away from other people, and when you are not eating.
• If at all possible, choose outside tables.
• Upon entering the restaurant, please sanitise your hands or wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. It is good practice to keep a small hand sanitiser bottle or sanitising wipes with you.
• When you visit the restroom, ensure that there are soap and paper towels or alcohol-based hand sanitiser available.
• Try and keep your booking small. Adhere to the regulations as set out for the number of people that may gather in a group.
• Avoid using communal cutlery that generally stands in a container on the table. Ask for cutlery with your meal.

Attending small gatherings or events (limited to 50 people under Lockdown Level 2 Regulations)

• If you are sick, have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are still waiting on your test results, do not attend gatherings or events with other people, and maintain isolation/quarantine guidelines.
• Check with the host of the event/gathering whether any Covid-19 safety precaution measures have been put in place to reduce the risk for transmission.
• Keep your social distance of at least 1.5 meters at all times from people who do not live with you.
• Wear your mask when interacting with other people, especially during activities such as singing, shouting and laughing.
• Practice hand-hygiene protocols (washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or using an alcohol-based sanitiser).
• Refrain from using shared cutlery and utensils. If disposable items are available, instead use those.
• It is essential to adhere to gathering and events regulations as these will be limited under Lockdown Level 2.

[A gathering or event in this instance may be that of a religious gathering, a funeral, visiting friends at their home, restaurants or small approved events and conferences.]

Visiting beaches and pools
The same safety precautions need to be adhered to as for visitation to other crowded places.

• Continue to wash your hands with soap and water as frequently as possible and refrain from sharing items with people you do not share a household.
• Adhere to social distancing of at least 1.5 meters.
• Ensure that you bring an extra mask (if the one gets wet), hand sanitiser with at least 60 per cent alcohol and wipes or tissues.
• Please ensure that you wear a mask when you are not in the water, especially when it is difficult to maintain physical distance. Keep at least 1.5 meters away from others.
• Try and stay away from crowded swim areas where you cannot maintain your social distance.

Take precautionary steps when returning home from shops or outdoor activities, especially if you have members of our vulnerable population living with you:

• Wash your hands.
• Remove your shoes outside of your house.
• Change your clothes before you have close contact with your family at home.

What is allowed under Lockdown Level 2? 

• Interprovincial travel will be allowed, without restrictions
• Hotels and guest houses can allow leisure travellers.
• The cigarette ban will be completely lifted.
• Bars, shebeens and taverns will be allowed to operate.
• Alcohol will be permitted for on-site consumption in licensed establishments only.
• Liquor outlets will be allowed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption from Monday to Thursday during the hours of 9am to 5pm only.
• Family and social interactions will be allowed, but limited to 10 people.
• Gyms and fitness centres can reopen.
• Parks, beaches and natures reserves will be open for outdoor activity.

For detailed information, click here to download the Government Gazette No. 43620 Vol. 662 of 17 August 2020.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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