Alert Level 3 – Will the whole pf South Africa move to level 3 on the 01 June?
Some doubt have been cast on whether some parts of the country will remain on the level 4 from 01 June 2020 by the health minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize.
On Sunday 24th May 2020 the president announced that the whole country will be moving to alert level 3 as from 01 June 2020 and this will include the reopening all districts, as well as key areas of the economy.
On Tuesday 26 may 2020 Dr Zweli Mkhize indicated that some corona virus hotspots may remain at level 4 based on the number of corona virus cases reported.
Mkhize’s presentation summary below highlights the confusion
Summary
- Swift, phased easing of the lockdown with the resumption of economic activity under conditions that provide simultaneous mitigation of risk
- Implementation of intensive measures in hotspots to reduce the risk of repeated closures of institutions as outbreaks continue to increase. These districts remain at level 4
- All other districts move to level 3 alert level. Vigilance in low risk districts and fortnightly re-assessment of risk level with the potential move to level 2 and level 1 of certain districts.
- Provincial command councils to submit plans on the effective management and coordination of districts based at various alert levels
- Risk mitigation is based on the appropriate use of coordination of interventions from the corona virus prevention toolbox.
A ministerial spokesperson told Business Day that the whole country is moving to level 3. but there can still be a determination made on the 1 June to keep certain districts at level 4, however, the spokesperson later backtracked and indicated that this was an error, and that Mkhize would provide clarity at a later date.
Western Cape premier Alan Winde has also indicated that he will seek clarity from president Ramaphosa about Mkhoze’s presentation. “I will seek clarity from the president on this matter as he was very clear in his address on Sunday that the whole country would move to level 3, with the hotspots being re-evaluated every two weeks,” he said.