Places and venues closed to the public under Level 3 lockdown

President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday evening 28 December 2020, announced that the country would move to Level 3 lockdown after a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations. With the new alert level came a list of restrictions regarding curfew, alcohol and movement. Here’s a list of places and venues that will be closed under Level 3 lockdown according to the signed government gazette. 

Ramaphosa also provided four reasons for the move to Level 3 lockdown. They are; to minimise the risk of super-spreading events, to decrease unsafe interactions between people, to increase prevention measures such as social distancing, masks, hand hygiene, symptom-checking and testing. Lastly, to decrease the burden on health care services so that resources can be directed to meet the needs of COVID-19 and other patients.

THESE PLACES WILL BE CLOSED UNDER LEVEL 3 LOCKDOWN 

The following places are closed to the public under Level 3 lockdown; 

• Night clubs;
• Swimming pools except for the training of professional athletes and swimming contests as referred to in regulation 36(17); 
• Bars, taverns and shebeens; 
• Public parks, including recreational facilities at such places, where there are no access control measures and entry limitations already in place. 

The Cabinet member responsible for cooperative governance and traditional affairs may, by directions, determine a place or premises that must be closed, if there is a risk of any members of the public being exposed to COVID -19 at such a place or premises.

CONTROLLED VISITS

All visits by members of the public to the following places are prohibited under Level 3 lockdown except to the extent and in the manner directed by the relevant Cabinet member. 

• Correctional centres; 
• Remand detention facilities; 
• Police holding cells; 
• Military detention facilities: 
• Health establishments and facilities, except to receive treatment or medication, subject to strict adherence to health protocols; and 
• Older persons’ residential facilities. 

CURFEW AND GATHERINGS UNDER LEVEL 3 LOCKDOWN 

Following Ramaphosa’s address, the nationwide curfew has been extended from 21:00 to 6:00 under Level 3 lockdown. Apart from permitted workers and for medical and security emergencies, nobody is allowed outside their place of residence during the curfew. All indoor and outdoor gatherings will be prohibited for 14 days from Monday 28 December, except for funerals and it may not be attended by more than 50 people with social distancing. 

Every business premises must also determine the maximum number of staff and customers permitted at any one time based on social-distancing guidelines and may not exceed that limit.

The government gazette can be found here.