South Africa’s curfew has been lifted with immediate effect as the nation passed the peak of its fourth wave.
Midnight To 4 am Curfew Scrapped
At this time, the midnight to 4 am curfew has immediately been scrapped while some of the lockdown level one restrictions still applying.
This change comes as the number of vaccinations in the country has increased and the available capacity in the health sector at present.
“All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level,”
Peak Of The Omicron Virus Has Passed
According to Reuters.com, Data from the health department shows a 29.7% decline in the number of new covid cases dated in the week of December 25th.
“While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been lower rates of hospitalization than in previous waves,”
So, while those who have been contesting any form of lockdown taking place on new years eve will be happy to know that they are able to celebrate freely without restrictions on time.
The statement released by the presidency states that masks are still mandatory and failing to wear a mask when required remains to be a criminal offense.
South Africa’s Alcohol Shops May Revert Back To Full Operation
In addition, alcohol shops with a license to operate beyond 11 PM may revert back to full license operation.
With the restriction lifted on alcohol, the country is able to recover from the impact the pandemic had on the country. The festive season is generally the busiest time for all alcohol outlets.
At this time, South Africa has been the worst-hit country during the pandemic on both counts. The country has recorded nearly 3.5 million infections and 91 000 deaths.
Now, regardless of restrictions on the public movement being lifted, rules on building capacity still apply. This includes no more than 1000 people in indoor gatherings and no more than 2000 people for outdoor gatherings.
