Ramaphosa: Govt to start move to level 3
President Cyril Ramaphosa says consultations will get underway to move much of the country to level 3 of the lockdown regulations.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.
The president also announced that the country now has 12 074 confirmed cases of coronavirus, but in spite of the daily increase in numbers, the government will move to further ease the lockdown restrictions.
"We are now preparing for a further easing of the lockdown and a gradual opening of the economy.
"I will repeat what I have said before: if we lift the lockdown too abruptly and too quickly, we risk a rapid and unmanageable surge in infections.
"We will, therefore, continue to proceed cautiously, informed by the best available evidence and guided by the advice of local and international experts.”
Ramaphosa says although most parts of the country will move to level 3, the hardest-hit areas will remain at level 4.
"We will immediately begin a process of consultation with relevant stakeholders on a proposal that by the end of May, most of the country be placed on alert level 3, but that those parts of the country with the highest rates of infection remain on level 4.
"We will make further announcements after the completion of the consultations.”
Ramaphosa also revealed that some of the level 4 regulations will be amended.
"In the coming days, we will also be announcing certain changes to level 4 regulations to expand permitted business activities in the retail space and e-commerce and reduce restrictions on exercise."
Full speech here: