Should you wear a mask while you run? Your lockdown exercise questions answered
After five long weeks, South Africans will finally be allowed to exercise outside their residences from 1 May.
Gyms, public swimming pools, beaches, public parks as well as sports grounds and fields remain closed, but you will be allowed to walk, cycle and run between 06:00 and 09:00 daily.
Your latest coronavirus news: A proposal on the re-opening of schools; which of your favourite fast-food restaurants will be open for delivery - but no Nando's yet; and a new regulation on 6-month prescriptions.
Level 4 makes provision for limited economic activity and the easing of some movement. A curfew from 20:00 to 05:00 will kick in, it will be mandatory to wear a cloth face mask, you will be able to buy hot foods for delivery, but you still can't buy alcohol.
People with expiring prescriptions, in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, are set for some relief.
In what appears to be a bid to further restrict movement and lessen the burden on the healthcare system, if you have an expiring six-month prescription, under certain circumstances, you will not have to visit the doctor for a while longer.
In an amendment to the Medicines and Related Substances Act, schedule 2, 3 and 4 drugs will be subject to extensions by dispensing pharmacists for a further six months.
WATCH | Ramaphosa accepts R1bn worth of protective gear from Naspers
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his gratitude after Naspers
donated a consignment of about six million masks and personal protective
equipment (PPE) worth R1 billion for health workers on Thursday.
Ramaphosa, who was touring Takealot's distribution centre, said he was grateful for Naspers and China's assistance in supplying medical equipment, adding more was on its way.
Plan to phase in pupils from June only a proposal for now - Motshekga
The Department of Basic Education may only be able to start phasing in Grade 7 and 12 pupils from 1 June, according to Minister Angie Motshekga.
Motshekga and her higher education counterpart, Blade Nzimande, briefed the nation on Thursday, outlining the plans to ensure teaching and learning resume as the country fights the coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga (GCIS)
A tough road lies ahead for the SA economy, with job losses potentially reaching up to seven million as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to projections by National Treasury.
This would take the country's already record unemployment rate as high as 50%.
According to new regulations, gazetted on Wednesday, the sale of hot, prepared food will be permitted for delivery only. Customers cannot visit restaurants to get the takeaways. Restaurants may open for food delivery services only, between 09:00 to 19:00.
(iStock)
For the first time since Covid-19 was detected there in February, South Korea reports zero new infections, suggesting its aggressive test-and-trace strategy is having results.
People with expiring prescriptions, in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, are set for some relief.
In what appears to be a bid to further restrict movement and lessen the burden on the healthcare system, if you have an expiring six-month prescription, under certain circumstances, you will not have to visit the doctor for a while longer.
In an amendment to the Medicines and Related Substances Act, schedule 2, 3 and 4 drugs will be subject to extensions by dispensing pharmacists for a further six months.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his gratitude after Naspers donated a consignment of about six million masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) worth R1 billion for health workers on Thursday.
Ramaphosa, who was touring Takealot's distribution centre, said he was grateful for Naspers and China's assistance in supplying medical equipment, adding more was on its way.
SA risks losing 7 million jobs, reaching over 50% unemployment: Treasury's grim worst-case scenario
A tough road lies ahead for the SA economy, with job losses
potentially reaching up to seven million as a result of the coronavirus
pandemic, according to projections by National Treasury.
This would take the country's already record unemployment rate as high as 50%.
The Department of Basic Education says at least 962 schools across the country have been vandalised and robbed since the start of the national lockdown.
In all of the incidents, administration blocks and laboratories have been targeted, and ICT (information and communications technology) equipment stolen, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Thursday.
The controversial Strandfontein shelter for the homeless in Cape Town will be subjected to a "phased closure", the City of Cape Town's mayco member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien, said ahead of the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
"The Strandfontein temporary shelter was always just a temporary intervention," added Badroodien on Thursday.
The controversial Strandfontein shelter for the homeless in Cape Town will be subjected to a "phased closure", the City of Cape Town's mayco member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien, said ahead of the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
"The Strandfontein temporary shelter was always just a temporary intervention," added Badroodien on Thursday.
The Department of Higher Education and Training has decided not to resume campus-based activity when Level 4 of the lockdown commences on Friday.
"We have decided not to resume with campus-based academic activity throughout the sector, including all universities and TVET (technical vocational education and training) colleges, both public and private, during the Level 4 lockdown period," Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said at a briefing on Thursday afternoon.
Some measures include providing PPEs to school, sanitising pupils hands when entering classrooms and sanitising classrooms.Administrative duties will start taking place on 4 May.
Although great strides have been made in reaching pupils through radio and TV channels, it had not reached all pupils and it was "not perfect".
May and June exams have been postponed to November/December.
These exams will be merged.Supplementary exams will also be written in November/December.
School fees are still payable said Motshekga as SGB-appointed teachers are paid from it.
Each province, district, circuit and school, must have a practical and comprehensive catch-up plan to be implemented.
The plans must talk to the risk profiles of the areas in which schools are located, and this must be based on the infection rate in the specific geographic areas.
Term one was taught fully.
Will be assessed on the amount of learning that took place, if pupils were taught 50% they will be assessed on 50% says Motshekga.
No one can claim to have experience in how to deal with what we are facing.
We share the same concerns that no student should be left behind says Nzimande.
"We have an unequal South African society. By the time we finish academic year not a single student should be left behind," says Nzimande.
Final year clinical training students will start immediately - doctors and nursing.
This was at the request of the deans says Nzimande.
The other years will be phased in as levels lower.
All these sessions will be online to ensure maximum coverage and reach. The training will also cover workers on night duty.
In addition, and working with the Department of Social Development, 1210 unemployed social workers will be recruited and placed on a 12-month internship, to work with our communities to tackle social distress and other psycho-social challenges facing households and communities during this difficult period.