Photo: Pixabay
Photo: Pixabay
South Africans could soon say goodbye to their last ‘bad hair day’ of the lockdown. Minister of Small Business and Development Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has revealed that South Africa is preparing to move to ‘Advanced Level 3’ within the next 48 hours, allowing several restricted services to reopen for business once more.
Has South Africa got a new lockdown level?
This is not a shift to Level 2. Speaking to eNCA on Monday, Ntshaveni explained that only moderate changes will be made to the current phase ‘by Wednesday at the latest’. As we reported on Sunday, these alterations will be discussed by the government’s Health Advisory Council before they are brought into law:
“When the president announced the move to Level 3, he also mentioned the stage of ‘Advanced Level 3’. We had the discussion last week in Cabinet, about industries requiring extra protocols. The decision will come through either on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. We are waiting for the Health Advisory Council.”
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
What changes at Advanced Level 3?
The exciting development comes at a time where President Ramaphosa has to tread carefully. The economy has been decimated by COVID-19, but the infection rate in SA continues to climb. It’s hoped that the following tentative steps forward will bring thousands back to work while keeping the threat of transmission low:
The personal care industry
- Hairdressing businesses can reopen.
- Massage treatments will be allowed at Advanced Level 3.
- Nail and manicure services are also in-line for a return.
- The guidelines on more specific treatments will be clarified ‘at some point this week’.
Hospitality and other services
- The opening of restaurants for ‘sit-down meals’ is now ready for approval.
- The rules for the opening of hotels and B&Bs at Level 3 of lockdown are set to be relaxed.
- And, in what some will see as a left-field choice, tattoo parlours are also likely to get the green light.
Factors still under consideration at Advanced Level 3
- The hours and days of when alcohol can be served.
- When the cigarette ban can be lifted (not likely until at least Level 2).
- The logistics of imposing ‘tighter rules’ for COVID-19 hot-spots, without knocking them down a level.
