South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced re-opening of casinos, cinemas, personal care services and certain forms of accommodation as the country further eases coronavirus lockdown restrictions, reported Reuters.
During his televised address to the nation, the South African president said restaurants will now be allowed to offer sit-down services, cinemas, casinos, theatres, hair salons and spas would operate under strict social distancing rules.
He said non-contact sports like tennis and golf would be permitted, as well as accommodation for business. AirBnB services will continue to remain suspended. More announcements on when casinos and other businesses will be permitted to operate will be made in due course.
Ramaphosa said the decision to allow the starting of various economic activities was taken after specific and stringent safety requirements were agreed upon. He said the safety measures will have to be in place before each business can reopen. The premier made no mention of plans to lift a ban on tobacco sales, which is being challenged in court.
The South African president had ordered one of the world’s strictest lockdowns at the end of March after the first coronavirus case was reported in the country on March 5. The lockdown had forced people to stay back at their homes, forcing miners and manufacturers to halt operations and banning the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.
The government had partly lifted the lockdown at the beginning of June, letting people come out of their homes to work, worship, exercise or shopping, and allowing mines and factories to run at full capacity to try to revive the economy.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa reported a total of 80 412 COVID-19 cases in South Africa. A total of 1 674 people have lost their lives. A total of 44 331 people have recovered which translates to a recovery rate of 55%.
