Table 1. South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown levels, period and summary of restrictions.

Lockdown level	Criteria for determination of alert levels	Period	Restrictions	Quarantine at shelters required
5	Indicates a high Covid-19 spread with a low health system readiness	26 March to 30 April 2020	Every person is confined to his/her place of residence, unless strictly for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining an essential good/service, collecting a social grant, pension or seeking emergency medical attention. Only essential service sectors allowed to operate. Essential employees commuting to work require a permit. Alcohol and cigarettes banned. All transport (cars and taxis included) to operate at restricted times of the day with limited capacity. No inter-provincial travel allowed.	Yes
4	Indicates a moderate to high Covid-19 spread with a low to moderate health system readiness	1 May to 31 May 2020	Food and retail stores permitted to be open and sell full line of products. Essential employees commuting to work still require a permit. Alcohol and cigarettes still banned. Waste services resume. Transport services may operate at all times of the day, with capacity limitations. Every person confined to his/her place of residence from 8pm– 5am, except for emergencies. Walking outside permitted between 6am-9am, within a 5-kilometer radius of place of residence. No inter-provincial travel.	Yes
3	Indicates a moderate Covid-19 spread with a moderate health system readiness	1 June to 17 August 2020	Take away restaurants and online food delivered. Alcohol sold within restricted hours. Cigarettes still banned. Transport may operate at all times of the day. Exercise permitted between 06:00 to 18:00.	Yes
2	Indicates a moderate Covid-19 spread with a high health system readiness	18 August 2020 to 20 September	Every person is confined to his/her place of residence from 22:00 until 04:00. Domestic workers allowed to return to work. Domestic air travel restored. Some provincial movement allowed, within Covid-19 restrictions.	Yes
1	Indicates a low Covid-19 spread with a high health system readiness.	21 September 2020—current	All sectors to resume within Covid-19 restrictions.	Yes