In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, restrictions were placed on travel and trade to slow down the spread of this deadly disease. We’ve been tracking the impact of these regulations over time with our Global Travel Restriction Index (GTRI). In this article, we’ll discuss what impact they have had so far and what we expect as we move towards level 2 lockdown in South Africa.”
What is Level 1 Lockdown?
Level 1 lockdown was implemented on 10 May 2019 to prevent further spread of the outbreak, as well as limit its impact. This means that it is essential for people returning from affected countries to follow strict hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with mites or other insects that can carry the virus. You should also avoid visiting places where many people congregate, like shopping malls and markets. Travel restrictions have been introduced in some parts of South Africa but not yet nationwide: these include bans on travel by road between provinces and countries within South Africa (not applicable to air travel), as well as prohibiting passengers boarding international flights who have been outside their home province within the last 7 days (this includes travellers who did not leave any time during this period).
The best-case scenario:
The best-case scenario is that they will lift the lockdown by the end of September when normalcy returns.
The normalisation of the lockdown will probably take up to two weeks, as it involves not only law enforcement officers but also communities and businesses in South Africa.
Current situation:
Currently, the current lockdown regulations are unlikely to be relaxed until 2021. The current situation is likely to change after this date, but only by further restrictions in lockdown regulations. The current situation is unlikely to change until 2021.
