On the 9th of April 2020, the president declared an additional 2-week extension on the South African 21-Day Lockdown. The country went into lockdown early after it first recorded the virus, a strategy adopted by several other countries on the continent. This means that all must stay at home except for essential workers. On the 23rd of April 2020, the President presented the Risk-Adjusted Strategy. A 5-staged relief to lockdown that fluctuates proportionality to the COVID-19 virus curve.
Each following the crucial and non-negotiable preventative measures of social distancing, adopting hand hygiene practices by washing hands regularly with water and soap or sanitizer, cough etiquette including coughing into your elbow or a tissue, wearing cloth masks whenever you are in public places, use of personal protection equipment by all health workers, frequent cleaning of the work environment and other public spaces and symptom screening, testing, isolation, quarantine and contact tracing
Level 5 is a full lockdown; drastic measures occur once the virus spreads at a higher rate than the health care system is not prepared for. A lockdown with extreme precautions is what will define Level 4; because of the large number of infections that the health system can handle. Level 3 is a lessened lockdown that is an easing on some restrictions because it would be at a point where the moderate virus spread with moderate readiness required. Lockdown but with physical distancing is a Level 2 is a lockdown, therefore, fewer restrictions. This means an easing of restrictions but still physical distancing because of the moderate spread of the virus. Level 1 is an indication that the lockdown will soon be coming to an end. This is when the nation is at low risk of infection but a high level of preparedness.
