By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20h30 on Sunday evening (25 July) to discuss developments in the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The president’s address will follow meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet which are taking place during the course of the day.
“As South Africa rolls out its Covid-19 vaccination programme, government and social partners are continuously monitoring Covid-19 infection, treatment and patient recovery rates as well as compliance with health regulations and other prevention measures,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Ramaphosa is expected to move the country to alert level 3, lifting the ban on alcohol and allowing for small gatherings when he addresses the nation on Sunday evening.
This comes as the Covid-19 third wave shows signs of easing and the government’s vaccination rollout programme gains steam.
A total of 49,589 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours in South Africa, with 12,056 new cases, representing a 24.3% positivity rate. A further 413 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said.
The country has been under level four of the adjusted lockdown regulations for a month.
Under level four, all gatherings were banned, except for funerals, and the sale of alcohol was prohibited. Initially restaurants were only allowed to sell takeaways, but this was slightly eased two weeks ago to allow sit-down meals.
A source, who was part of the president’s co-ordination council meeting, said that alcohol sales would be permitted for off-site consumption from Monday to Thursday, until 6pm. On-site consumption would to be allowed for licensed establishments, but only until 8pm.
Meanwhile, gatherings, including religious and sports gatherings, were also expected to be allowed, with 50 people allowed for indoor and 100 people outdoor events.
The Gauteng travel ban was also expected to be lifted, as indications are that Covid-19 cases, hospitalisation and deaths were dropping.
Another source confirmed that public transport long-distance travel was expected to be allowed at 70% capacity.