South Africa reopens casinos amid COVID-19 cases rise

South Africa allowed casinos to reopen as of Monday in a further easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions despite a sharp rise in infections.

The country has recorded 118,375 infections of the respiratory disease and 2,292 deaths and daily case numbers rose by more than 6,500 on Thursday after less than 1,000 in April, Reuters reports. On the other hand, three months of lockdown has left many tourism-linked businesses fighting for survival.

“We are continuing with the effort to reactivate the tourism sector so that we can save businesses and jobs in the sector,” Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said in a televised briefing, after warning last month that up to 600,000 jobs were at risk if the sector remained shut until September.

Kubayi-Ngubane said casinos would operate at 50% capacity, while cinemas and theatres would only be allowed 50 people or less. Restaurants, fast food outlets and coffee shops could offer sit-in services in addition to the take-aways they had already been allowed but would not be able to serve alcohol.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma published Thursday a new directive outlining the businesses that can reopen under the country’s advanced level 3 lockdown, Business Tech reports. It includes a restriction on the number of persons allowed in the casino to not more than 50% of the available floor space, with patrons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, though this percentage may be increased by the minister. It also mandates strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures as provided for in directions that must be issued by the responsible cabinet member.