- The strict lockdown in South Africa, to curb the spread of the coronavirus, will be somewhat relaxed from May 1st.
- Alcohol and public gatherings remain prohibited, and wearing cloth masks in public will become required.
- But an estimated 1.5 million people will return to work, and you will be able to order takeouts.
- For more stories, go to Business Insider's home page.
The bad news is that South Africans still won’t be able to supplement their depleted alcohol supplies when the country moves to a slightly more relaxed version of lockdown on May 1st.
Under Level 4, you still have to stay at home, and will only be allowed out for shopping, work and medical reasons.
No “recreational” visits with friends and family are allowed, and you won’t be able to go to church or any other group gatherings. Hair and nail salons are still out of bounds, as is the rotisserie chicken at Woolworths. Stores still aren’t allowed to sell hot food.
The country will be under curfew from 20:00 to 5:00, and you will have to wear a cloth mask every day. People who are over the age of 60 will be discouraged from leaving their residences.
READ: Lockdown level 4: What is now allowed
Here are some of the new liberties that Level 4 will bring from Friday:
You can order hot food
Restaurants and fast-food outlets will be allowed to open from 09:00 to 20:00. But you won’t be able to visit – only deliveries will be allowed.
You can exercise outside your residence
While the details will still be announced, you should be able to run, cycle or walk outside under certain restrictions – and not in groups.
All tobacco products will go on sale
You can buy cigarettes again.
You can buy more things
Winter clothing, bedding and heaters will be sold, as well as all children’s clothes. You can also buy stationery and educational books, and all personal tech equipment including computers, mobile telephones and other home office equipment will be available.
You will also be allowed to buy fabric to produce face masks and other personal protective equipment.
Some car repairs will be allowed
Emergency car repairs will be allowed for all South Africans.
An estimated 1.5 million people will return to work
Some sectors will now open their doors again – although many will only allow a part of their workforce back. All kinds of manufacturing as well as some construction services (mostly for public projects, roads and bridges and critical maintenance and repairs) will be allowed. Click here for the full list (under Level 4).
Next week, government will provide more information about how schools and universities will reopen.
Movement across provincial borders
You can move to another province to start working, if you have documentation to prove it. You can also still go to another province if you are attending a funeral, or in case of a medical emergency.
Public transport
Public rail, minibus taxi and bus services will progressively expand to accommodate more workers. E-hailing services like Uber and Bolt will be subject to restrictions.
Some domestic workers can return to work
But only if they work for someone who is employed in a sector that is open under the Level 4 rules. But all live-in staff can return.
You can replace your ID
Licensing, permitting and deeds offices are open again, and you can replace your ID as well as get birth and death certificates.
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Also from Business Insider South Africa:
- SA Express employees now have a crowdfunding campaign to buy food after they weren’t paid
- This is South Africa's plan to avoid global Covid-19 testing shortage
- 5.5 years to pay and banks risk only 6%: How SA’s R200bn Covid-19 loan scheme will work
- More than 220,000 South Africans may be missing out on nearly R1 billion in cash, the UIF says
- YouTube's CEO suggested content that 'goes against' WHO guidance on the coronavirus will get banned
