Double dose of good news

Double dose of good news

Writer De Waal Steyn

Businesses in the Overstrand are breathing a collective sigh of relief after Pres Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night announced the easing of some lockdown restrictions.

This means that restaurants and wine farms may sell alcohol for onsite consumption again during their normal operating hours, while businesses that sell alcohol for offsite consumption may trade from Monday to Thursday between 10:00 and 18:00. The sale of alcohol for offsite consumption will remain prohibited over weekends and public holidays.

Beaches and other public places that have been off-limits for the past month will now also reopen. Religious gatherings will also be allowed, subject to health protocols.

The easing of restrictions was announced after a steady decline in new infections over the past two weeks. According to Ramaphosa new infections in the country declined by almost 50% over the last week. In the Western Cape, the number of active cases dropped from 39 855 on 18 January to 12 994 on 1 February – a decline of 67%. According to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, there is also a sustained decline in hospitalisations and people testing positive in the province. (See page 7 for the Covid dashboard).

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