As the government eases lockdown restrictions in the country, South Africa is considering its options to allow large public spaces to reopen amid the ongoing global pandemic. Governmental organisations are considering the introduction of electronic vaccine passports which will be used to access public spaces and venues like sport stadiums and concert venues.
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According to President Ramaphosa, the department of health is investigating options for introducing a ‘passport’ system, he said in his national address on Sunday. They are looking at “an approach for vaccine passports, which can be used as evidence of vaccination for various events and purposes,” and will share more information in due course.
While no final decisions have been taken, it appears that the leading candidate at this point is electronic verification. Ramaphosa said that the country is considering using an electronic system “through smartphones, or other forms of demonstration.”
The country is now at adjusted Level 2 of lockdown, which on the surface doesn’t seem very different to Level 3 we have just exited. The following changes came into effect on Monday, 13 September.
- The curfew is now between 11pm and 4am;
- Bars, restaurants and other venues must closed by 10pm to allow employees to get home before the curfew begins;
- All gatherings will now be limited to maximum of 250 people indoors (from 50 under level 3). Outdoors, the limit has been moved to 500 people (from 100); and
- The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption is now permitted between 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. On-site consumption is allowed as per a venue’s licence conditions, up to 10pm. Alcohol consumption remains prohibited in public spaces.
Would you prefer the use of electronic vaccine passports to feel safer around a large amount of people? Let us know in the comments down below.
