The national lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday brings drastic changes that citizens will have to adhere to.
Understandably, people have many questions about how exactly the lockdown will be implemented, and what will be allowed in the next 21 days.
DispatchLIVE has some answers.
Will people be allowed to jog and walk the dogs?
Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, the spokesperson for Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane, has called a special executive committee meeting to discuss the implementation of the president’s decision.
“All that information will be decided by the executive committee tomorrow [Wednesday] at a special meeting. We will issue a media statement tomorrow about the outcomes of this special meeting,” he said.
Will hospital visits will be allowed?
Provincial health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said this also would be announced by the premier.
Do security guard personnel form part of the essential services and will they be working?
Owner of Tyeks Security company, Tyelovuyo Buhlungu said employees would be on duty as usual.
Most of his employees guard clinics and hospitals in the province.
“The president emphasised this, that we fall under essential services,” Buhlungu said.
What about funerals?
“People have been encouraged to limit funerals to two hours with an attendance limited to 100 so that we can contain this virus and beat it,” Sicwetsha said.
Will animal shelters be open?
National Council of SPCA spokesperson Meg Wilson said local SPCA shelters would be open.
“We are still finding out whether we qualify as essential services. We think we do qualify but we are making sure. Our services are essential in making SA a better place.
“If for any reason someone cannot take care of their animal, rather than dump it, they should bring it to the SPCA.”
Do Clicks and Dis-Chem count as pharmacies and stay open?
Dis-Chem will remain open. This was confirmed by Caryn Barker, Dis-Chem's HR director.
All Clicks stores across the country will be open as well, a Clicks spokesperson confirmed.
Will spaza and grocery shops be open?
They will be open, minister of trade, industry & competition, Ebrahim Patel confirmed on Tuesday.
Will bottle stores be open?
Pick n Pay said on Twitter that the following limits would apply to all sales of alcohol in-store: beer or cider — three cases each, spirits three bottles, wine 12 bottles, and boxed wine three boxes. These limits are effective immediately.