South Africa is back on lockdown level 4.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement in an address to the nation on Sunday evening.
The raised Covid-19 Alert Level brings back a wide range of significant restrictions.
Public gatherings are now banned, the curfew starts at nine P-M, and there’s a complete prohibition on alcohol sales.
Schools will also close this week, and restaurants are restricted to offering takeaway services.
Leisure travel to and from Gauteng is also prohibited.
Ramaphosa says the average number of new cases reported daily will soon pass the peak of the second wave.
“What we are seeing is that the existing containment measures in place are not enough to cope with the speed and scale of new infections that we are experiencing under this third wave”.
The restrictions will last at least 14 days, with a review of their impact closer to that July 11th deadline.
And, while beaches and parks will remain open, the president has warned people not use them as places to get together with friends.
All public gatherings, except for funerals, are prohibited.
“All gatherings – whether indoors or outdoors – are prohibited. These include religious, political, cultural and social gatherings”.
