Lockdown level announcement: Govt assessing SA’s Covid-19 situation

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says government is continuing to assess the country’s Covid-19 infections with a view of moving to a lower lockdown level.

Covid-19 lockdown in SA

Announcement incoming

Phaahla on Friday said many people have been asking when would President Cyril Ramaphosa move the country from level 3 lockdown to level 1, which has fewer restrictions on the movement of people and on economic activity.

He said Cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) were “sensitive to these matters” and would soon make an announcement based on an analysis of the trajectory of infections.

“I want to assure the nation that we are not oblivious of the pressure of the restrictions at current level 3. So, we will give the necessary advice to our leadership in government to see whether there might be an opportunity to move to a lower level,” Phaahla said.

“But at the same time, as the president always says, we have to balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods. So we are discussing this on a weekly basis and we are reviewing [the sitution],” he added.

The minister was speaking during a media briefing in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s vaccination site.

ALSO READ: National State of Disaster extended yet again

Third wave proven to be ‘stubborn’

Phaahla said South Africa was still in the grips of the third wave, with KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape still accounting for the most number of Covid-19 cases.

The minister said the third wave had proven to be “stubborn” and protracted but he was optimistic about the decline in infections in Gauteng, which was previously the country’s coronavirus hotspot.

But, generally, Covid-19 cases across the country had stabilised, Phaahla said.

“We are encouraged by the declining numbers and we will do our analysis from the health department and also advised by our ministerial advisory committee… we will continue to assess this and give a report to the president and the team of leadership in the next week.

“And if it becomes clear that there is stability in the infection rate, we will give the necessary advice. So, you can look forward to some more relaxation [in lockdown restirctions],” he said.

This week Cabinet approved the extension of the National State of Disaster by another month to 15 October 2021.

The current National State of Disaster is due to expire on 15 September.