Cyril Ramaphosa South African President
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on the relaxation of lockdown regulations in the coming days.
According to a government advisory published on Tuesday (7 September), the address will also focus on the way forward to achieve population immunity through vaccination.
The update comes after the president chaired meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the President Coordinating Council earlier in the day.
“The meetings reflected on the rate of Covid-19 infections and vaccinations, and assessed the Covid-19 prevention measures in force under the Adjusted Level 3 of the national state of disaster.”
“The NCCC agreed that government will in the coming days hold consultations with political parties and the religious sector on the observance of safety measures.”
No date or time has yet been given for the president’s address.
Health minister Joe Phaahla said that the Department of Health and Covid-19 Ministerial Advisory Committee analyse infection trends every week.
Addressing media on Friday (3 September), Phaahla said that if there is a sustained decline in infections, then the president will be advised by the department to ease restrictions.
“If it becomes clear that there is stability and the infection rates are definitely stabilising, we will give the necessary advice. You can look forward to some more relaxations – but there will still be a responsibility on us to follow the protocols,” he said.
On Monday, South Africa recorded 4,118 new cases of Covid-19, taking the total reported to 2,824,063. The number of new cases is the lowest reported since early June. South Africa was put into lockdown level 4 on 27 June.
Deaths have reached 83,617 (+198), while recoveries have climbed to 2,599,667, leaving the country with a balance of 140,779 active cases. The total number of vaccines administered is 13,673,651 (+218,828).
