Govt: There will be a gradual lift of lockdown
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says there will be a gradual lifting of lockdown regulations.
She was speaking at a briefing of the national command council on Covid-19 in Pretoria on Tuesday, where several amendments to the lockdown regulations were also announced.
Dlamini-Zuma said South Africans should expect weekly announcements as the government starts phasing in some industries that are prohibited from operating.
The ban on the sale and transportation of alcohol and cigarettes will remain in place.
"I don't want to name the industries, but there are things that are affecting people, for instance, winter is coming and things that go with that will be attended to, schools might reopen and things that go with that should be attended to," Dlamini-Zuma said.
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"Industries will have to slowly come on full stream, so don't think we are always changing the regulations. It's an orderly way of easing the lockdown, we don't know if the lockdown will end on the 30th of April and even if it does we cannot just lift it abruptly."
The latest round of amendments includes the reopening of certain call centers related to retail and insurance, the mining sector, especially coal mines which will be allowed to operate at 50.
Emergency repairs of vehicles used by essential services workers will also be allowed to operate, as well as plumbers and electricians.
Govt preparing for gradual ... by GaoOliviaPhalaetsile on Scribd