He addressed what has been dubbed “family meeting” last night, and said we’re still remaining on adjusted lockdown alert level 3.
Ramaphosa reiterated no-one will receive the vaccine against their will.
On the arrival of the first batch of vaccination from India on Monday, the Pres said the first one million vaccinations will be prioritised for health-care workers across the public and private sectors.
The national vaccine strategy phase rollout of vaccines will see phase 2 prioritise essential workers, people over 60 years, those with comorbidities and those living in nursing homes and hostels.
In phase 3 the vaccination programme will be extended to the rest of South Africa’s adult population.
The vaccines are safely guarded in Bloemfontein for further testing and will only be ready to be inoculated after 10 or 14 days.
On the easing of lockdown, he said the sale of alcohol, swimming at beaches, restrictions on faith-based gatherings will be eased. Curfew will now be from 11pm-4am.
But Pres Ramaphosa also warned this was not permanent if the numbers increase and hospitals are overwhelmed.
More vaccinations will be made available by private companies.
He also thanked MTN for making available financial resources to acquire vaccine throughout the African continent and made a clarion call to other private sectors to come on board.
Image (Safely landed. Pres Cyril Matamela and deputy Pres David Mabuza inspect the first batch of vaccines that landed at OR Tambo International on a rainy Monday).
