The lockdown: What you can and cannot do
When the country goes into lockdown at midnight on Thursday to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus, life will change for all South Africans for the next three weeks.
Government announced strict regulations on Wednesday governing movement during the lockdown period, which will last until midnight on Thursday 16 April.
threestreamsmedia put together a simple guide to highlight what you may and may not do during the lockdown period. This is not an exhaustive list, as regulations are still being announced, but it covers some of the lockdown’s most important do’s and don’ts.
What you can do
Some people will be allowed to continue working to keep essential services running. However, people who travel to and from work will need to show permits that they are allowed to be on the roads. These workers include:
- A variety of medical staff and caregivers
- People working in the private security sector
- Police
- Soldiers
- Food producers and distributors
- Workers in food stores
- Essential banking staff
- Essential back-end staff in companies (such as those working with payrolls)
- Essential animal welfare and emergency veterinary services
- Journalists
- People working in the fuel distribution industry
These workers may use limited public transport at specific times, between 5am and 9am, and 4pm to 8pm, if they have the required permit that allows them to continue working.
People who are not essential workers must stay at home. You will be allowed to do only the following:
- Shop for essential groceries
- Visit the doctor or pharmacy for emergency services and medication
- Collect social grants
- Attend funerals where there are fewer than 50 people
- Take an Uber or metered taxi for essential services only
- Order courier delivery services for essential goods only
When confined at home you can pass the time by:
- Spending quality time with your family or other people in your household
- Watching lots of TV and streaming videos (if you have access). Showmax offers a free trial for two weeks
- Watching the special, dedicated religious channel to be created for Easter, as well as the SABC’s new dedicated education channel
- Listening to the radio
- Playing games
- Reading
- Cooking
- Working from home
- Exercising, there are many online exercise videos
What you cannot do
The most important thing to remember is that you have to practice social distancing and not mingle with people outside your household or family. If all South Africans do not follow these regulations, the virus curve will not flatten. No large gatherings are allowed.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said people should stay at home and not leave their residential areas. They should not travel to other cities or towns, and they may not travel between provinces. South Africa’s borders will be closed to travellers, but open to goods.
- You cannot leave your house for anything but essential trips for food or medical reasons, and you cannot travel within the country.
- You cannot take a commuter or long-distance train or any other kind of public transport (special transport will be arranged for those who need to work).
- You cannot fly withing South Africa, flights will be cancelled, with South African Airways, kulula, British Airways and FlySafair announcing on their websites that all domestic flights will be cancelled from Thursday night until after the lockdown period.
- You cannot fly overseas, all international passenger flights have been cancelled.
- Intercity bus services will also cease operating. Intercape has already announced that its services will stop running.
- You cannot go to restaurants, bars or coffee shops, or order takeaways. These outlets will be closed.
- You cannot go to the movies. Cinemas will be closed.
- You cannot go to a casino. They will be closed.
- You cannot arrange or be part of large gatherings, such as church services.
- You cannot buy or transport liquor, all liquor shops will be closed.
- You cannot walk your dog, unless it’s around your own house.
NWU students can follow updates about the lockdown and study arrangements on the university’s Coronavirus website.