News
Cape Town Mayor Welcomes Shift to Lockdown Alert Level 1
1 March 2021
Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato has welcomed news that South Africa will move back to lockdown Alert Level 1.
The eased restrictions take effect today (1 March 2021) and come nearly a year after the first Covid-19 case was reported in the country.
In a national address on Sunday, 28 February 2021, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country had clearly passed its second wave in Covid-19 cases, with most people adhering to tighter restrictions and observing basic health protocols.
“Now, a year after the virus first reached our shores, we have a clear path towards containing infections and, ultimately, overcoming the disease,” said Ramaphosa. “Within less than a year the global scientific community has developed, tested and produced several vaccines that are safe and effective against the disease. South Africa’s scientists and research institutions have made an important contribution to these efforts and have contributed to global knowledge about the disease, including on the emergence of new variants.”
The shift from lockdown Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 1 means, among other things, that previously prohibited gatherings are now allowed and curfew is now from midnight to 4am.
Plato said that the eased restrictions would be a great boost to the sustained recovery of the hospitality sector in Cape Town, which has continued to struggle under lockdown.
“We welcome the relaxation of the curfew hours to help businesses in the hospitality sector continue their gradual recovery,” said Plato.
“As restrictions are being eased, we urge residents to not let their guard down. It is all of our responsibility to continue adhering to the regulations to limit new infections as far as possible. We are days away from marking a full year since the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in the country.”
Let us stay hopeful, strong and kind. It is has been a long and difficult year, but there is hope as vaccinations are being administered and more have been procured by national government.
The amended regulations include:
- Curfew relaxed to between midnight to 04:00
- Sale of alcohol and off-site consumption is allowed
- Outdoor gatherings increased from 100 persons to 250, indoor gatherings limited to 100 up from 50. Religious, social and political gatherings permitted but to be regulated on size
- Nightclubs remain closed
- All beaches and public swimming pools remain open
- Wearing a mask in public spaces remains compulsory and non-compliance is a criminal offence under national lockdown regulations; punishable by a fine or up to six-month imprisonment, if found guilty.
View a summary of the full Level 1 regulations here.
