South Africa has moved to lockdown level 2 due to a surge in positive Covid-19 cases.
A curfew will be imposed from 11pm to 4am.
Restaurants and bars will close at 10pm.
Gatherings will be limited to 100 indoors and 250 people outdoors.
Funerals are restricted to 100 people and night vigils and after tears are not allowed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement last night on national TV, following meetings in recent days of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) and Cabinet.
Ramaphosa said the Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape and North West had reached worrying levels of active coronavirus cases.
“It is only a matter of time that the entire country reaches a third wave,” he said.
“Over the last seven days, we have seen an average of 3,745 daily new infections.
“This is an increase of 31% on the previous week, and an increase of 66 percent on the week before that.
“The proportion of Covid-19 tests that are positive has more than doubled in the last month from around 4% to more than 11% even as we have increased testing across the country.
“We are advised that a positivity rate of over 5% is a cause for concern.”
Ramaphosa reiterated that it is mandatory for everyone to wear masks in public, and anyone who tests positive for Covid should self-isolate at home for 10 days.
“Scientists who advise the government say the severity of the third wave will be determined by the amount of contact each of us has with other people.”
There are currently 48,523 active cases, while the death toll stood at 56,363.
According to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, by Saturday a total of 963,876 people had been vaccinated; 479,768 health workers and 484,108 elderly. people under Phase 2.