25/03/2020
*_24 MARCH 2020 - 11:28am_*
The President addressed the nation to advise on decisive measures being undertaken to save millions of South Africans from infection and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
• A nation-wide lockdown will be enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act from *midnight on Thursday 26 March* till *Midnight 16 April 2020*.
• The nation-wide lockdown will last for *21 days.*
• South Africans will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances, such as to seek medical care, buy food, medicine and other supplies or to collect a *social grant*.
• Those exempt from the national lockdown include; health workers (public and private sectors), emergency personnel, security services (police, traffic officers, military) medical personnel, soldiers and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic.
• All restaurants, cafes, bars, coffee shops not deemed as essential services are required to close.
• All food delivery services to be suspended in order to comply with nation-wide lockdown period.
• All shops and businesses will be closed, except for: pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial and payment services- including the JSE- supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers.
• In addition those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services, laboratory services, and the provision of medical and hygiene products will be exempt.
• Temporary shelters meeting necessary hygiene standards will be identified for homeless people.
• Sites are also being identified for quarantine and self- isolation for people who cannot self-isolate at home.
• Companies essential to the production and transportation of food, basic goods and medical supplies will remain open.
• Provision will be made for essential transport services to continue, including transpo