Level 4 lockdown: Joggers, cyclists flock to exercise hot-spots [photos]

Friday morning signalled the first time in five weeks that South Africans were allowed to leave their homes for recreational reasons – and boy, did we take advantage of our three-hour exercise window. From Sea Point to the Durban beachfront, citizens arrived en masse to stretch their legs… or in some cases, pedals.

Level 4 lockdown: Exercise petition launched

People are now allowed to leave their homes between 6:00 and 9:00 to partake in exercise, no more than 5km away from their homes. This window itself has been questioned, and already, a petition demanding that the time limit is extended now has almost 14 000 signatures. The main argument is that many people now only get to work-out while its still dark, posing an entirely new danger:

“Allowing exercise for three hours means that anyone who starts work at 8:00 is unlikely to be able to exercise as they may need to travel to work and shower and get ready before doing so. The sunrise is only after 7:00 each day and many people do not want to run in the dark.”

“In fact, it may be unsafe to run in the dark between 6:00 and 7:00 considering the increasing number of people who have no income and who may be forced to resort to crime. Surely it is better to allow people to do their exercise over the course of the day, and not cram everyone into a two-hour window of sunlight.”

Amy Laird

Joggers in Sea Point hit the promenade

Cape Town’s main promenade was particularly busy, sparking fears that disease could spread easily between joggers and walkers. However, social distancing protocols were observed throughout.

Sea Point Promenade this morning and I’m sorry, but this is not okay. All it takes is for someone to brush your arm pic.twitter.com/wueisY6AT7

— Logan (@Logan5tone) May 1, 2020

A busy morning on the Sea Point promenade as residents go out for their first day of exercise under level 4. pic.twitter.com/1Wd4Rfgpr2

— CapeTalk on 567AM (@CapeTalk) May 1, 2020

Day 1 of Level 4! Cape Town this morning (apparently)… 🤷🏽‍♀️ We need exercise hours in the afternoon to reduce such… There is no way!!! @CyrilRamaphosa @DrZweliMkhize @GovernmentZA @PresidencyZA pic.twitter.com/CZ2YruM3w5

— rene malika (@RMalikaP) May 1, 2020

Level 4 latest – exercise in our major cities

Durban also experienced similar volumes of people enjoying their outdoor exercise for the first time since March. Johannesburg was more of a mixed bag – quiet in some spots, packed in others…

WATCH: The Durban beachfront is packed with people this morning who are taking advantage of #Level4Restrictions which allows for morning exercise. It's hard to tell we are in a pandemic from this. People have flooded the promenade. @News24 @TeamNews24 #COVID__19 pic.twitter.com/Gbr0YYr961

— Kaveel Singh (@kaveels) May 1, 2020

Need A new plan 🙆‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/SRxltSeo75

— 𝐇𝕻 ✹ (@MzansisHP) May 1, 2020

U-oh – a #coronavirus super-spreading problem developing along the #BraamfonteinSpruit at Blairgowrie, Victory Park, Parkhurst, #DeltaPark area @JoburgParksZoo @SAPoliceService @CityofJoburgZA @JoburgParksZoo @GeoffMakhubo @ArnoldsMmc @GJMo @NationalCoGTA pic.twitter.com/S4FT2Cgetz

— Cllr Tim (@jozi117) May 1, 2020