Question

Safety regulations adopted by political leaders in SA and globally to minimise the spread of COVID 19

Answer 1

Answer:

On March 15, 2020, when the number of persons infected was 61, South Africa declared a national state of disaster under the 2002 Disaster Management Act. This was done primarily, as President Ramaphosa put it, to enable the government to “have an integrated and coordinated disaster management mechanism that will focus on preventing and reducing the outbreak of this virus.” The declaration enabled the government to issue a slew of regulations, directions, and guidelines to contain and mitigate the impact of the pandemic. During a state of disaster, the Disaster Management Act allows the government to issue regulations to restrict, inter alia, movement of persons and goods “to, from or within the disaster-stricken or threatened area, … the suspension or limiting of the sale, dispensing or transportation of alcoholic beverages in the disaster-stricken or threatened area…. [or] any other steps that may be necessary to prevent an escalation of the disaster, or to alleviate, contain and minimise the effects of the disaster…” (§ 27(2).) Similarly, the 2004 Disaster Management Regulations (DMR) (as amended) state that ”[a]ny Minister may issue and vary directions, as required, within his or her mandate, to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19, from time to time, as may be required, including…steps that may be necessary to prevent an escalation of the national state of disaster, or to alleviate, contain and minimise the effects of the national state of disaster.” (§10(8).)

Lockdown

The government instituted a lockdown from March 26 through April 16.  (DMR § 11.) On April 9, President Ramaphosa extended the lockdown through the end of April. During this period, every person must remain confined in his or her place of residence and is not allowed to leave “unless strictly for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining an essential good or service, collecting a social grant, pension or seeking emergency, life-saving, or chronic medical attention.” (DMR § 11B.) All gatherings, except for purposes of attending a funeral (allowed only for a maximum of 50 persons), are banned. (DMR §§ 3 & 11B.) All business must remain closed for the duration except those engaged in “manufacturing,