This archive report was first published on 25 May 2020.
On May 24, 2020, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a significant shift in the country's approach to the Covid-19 pandemic, easing the lockdown from level four to level three starting June 1.
According to Ramaphosa, moving to alert level three will allow the opening of the economy and the removal of restrictions on the movement of people, while expanding and intensifying public health interventions.
With up to eight million people returning to work, the implementation of alert level three will involve the return to operation for most sectors of the economy, subject to strict health protocols and social distancing rules.
However, all gatherings will remain prohibited, except for funerals with no more than 50 people or meetings in the workplace for work purposes.
The national borders will remain closed except for the transport of goods and repatriation of nationals.
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the easing of some restrictions does not mean that the threat posed by the coronavirus has passed or that the fight against the disease is over.
South Africa has recorded 22,583 confirmed Covid-19 cases, up by 1,240 from Saturday, the highest daily surge since March 5 when the country reported its first case.
