A lot has changed since President Ramaphosa announced a nation-wide lockdown from Thursday 26 March. Just as we entered the 19th week in lockdown, we entered a revised level 3 as well. Many South Africans have rejoiced over the new levels of freedom that come with this level, but many South Africans are shaking their fists at their TV-sets every time we hear “my fellow South-Africans”. On Sunday, 12 July a curfew was reinstated, alcohol has been banned again and beaches remain closed.

 

Here are a few things you should and should not do during this new phase of lockdown.

 

What NOT to do:

  • Don’t leave the house unless you have to travel to work, go to the shop, seek medical help or travel to school or university.
  • Do not travel to work unless you absolutely have to. If you can continue to work from home, please do so!
  • Social gatherings are still not allowed. Currently, the regulations only allow for groups of people to gather for professional, non-contact sports (to be elaborated on by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture), workplace meetings, funerals, agricultural auctions, and services at faith-based institutions. Limited to 50 people.
  • Do not cram the whole family in the car for a shopping trip. 
  • Public places such as beaches remain closed.
  • Do not buy cigarettes or tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.
  • It’s not time for a holiday just yet. Leisure travel and accommodation such as hotels, BnB’s, lodges etc. remain prohibited.
  • A curfew between 21:00 and 04:00 has been reinstated under the revised lockdown 3 regulations.
  • Do not visit your friends and family. You’ll only be putting them at risk.  
  • Do not share crockery/cutlery/towels/bedding or other items in the home just to be safe.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Your hands pick up all kinds of germs throughout the day, so it is important to be mindful of not bringing these germs close to your face.

 

What you CAN do:

  • Brave the outside world and go for a bicycle ride, jog or walk the dog between 04:00 and 21:00. But no groups are allowed … your walking club will have to take place at an appropriate social distance. Remember your face mask. 
  • You are allowed to visit restaurants for sit-down and take-away meals.
  • You can visit public parks for exercise and limited SANParks will be operating under level 3.
  • If you are going back to work, you will need a letter from your employer stating that you are required to be back at the workplace.
  • You are allowed to move house, but you will need documentation from the relevant authorities. 
  • Business travel within provincial borders are allowed under the revised lockdown level 3 regulations.
  • If you have an elderly neighbour, send them a message before going to the shop so that you can pick up some things for them. Leave the items or package at their door to avoid physical contact.

 

Safety and sanity first: 

  • Wear a face mask at all times when in public spaces.
  • Keep a distance of 2m between you and anyone else at all times. 
  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue and dispose thereof safely. The Corona-virus is spread through droplets, so limiting the spread of these can slow the infection rate of the virus considerably.
  • Wash your hands frequently and correctly with soap and water. If you do not have soap and water readily available you can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Click HERE to watch a video explaining exactly how to wash your hands to get rid of as many germs as possible.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects regularly. Soap and water won’t work in this case. You need to use disinfectant with a bleach or alcohol base. This includes keys, door handles, your phone, the TV remote, the bathroom, kitchen surfaces, light switches, etc.
  • If you start showing symptoms or feel ill at all, please seek medical care immediately and isolate yourself from any human contact. Phone the hotline (0800 029 999) or your doctor immediately.
  • If someone in your home is infected, they need to be quarantined in their own room and use their own bathroom if possible. And contact between them and the rest of the family should not take place at all. 
  • Stay informed and do not panic. Check your sources and don’t spread fake news on WhatsApp or other social media platforms.
  • Check in with your loved ones. Call them or send them a message and make sure they’re ok. 

 

Where to shop:

All major retailers as well as smaller enterprises are allowed to operate under level 3. You should be able to buy most of the things you would normally add to your trolley, minus cigarettes and tobacco products and alcohol (again) of course. Don’t forget to use your loyalty and bsmart cards when paying for your goods. You’ll be adding points to your profile and cash back to your bonus, and we’ve all seen what impact a little extra money can have in these unprecedented times.

Changing up your style or simply keeping the chills at bay? Ackermans, PEP and Pick n Pay Clothing have lovely affordable options and deals available for winter essentials and more.

It’s important to make sure your home is prepared for the colder weather. You don’t want the biting cold cramping your cosy style? Hardware stores such as Builders Warehouse have everything you need.

Let’s face it, a cosy night on the sofa in front of the TV isn’t complete without a fuzzy blanket or glowing heat of a heater nearby. Head on over to Game and Makro for winter essentials.

Don’t forget your bsmart bonus out in the cold. Remember to use your bsmart card to save towards your bonus while shopping for your essentials.

 

 

 

We’ve got loads of retailers in our network waiting for you. Search for any of the retailers listed or simply filter by category after you've clicked here to find a retailer near you!

 

It’s important to bsmart that our members stay safe and wear a mask when going to the shops. Don’t touch your face while out and about. Keep a safe distance and wash your hands and disinfect everything as soon as you get home.

Safe and happy shopping.

We understand the need for online shopping, especially in these difficult and trying times. We are working hard to make online shopping with the bsmart card possible soon.

 

Important Resources: 

  • Call the NICD Hotline if you have any symptoms: 0800 029 999
  • The National Government set up a WhatsApp support line on 0600 123456
  • Please visit The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and World Health Organisation (WHO) websites for more information on the COVID-19 virus.
  • IOL compiled a list of places where you can get tested in SA. Click HERE to find out more.

 

Please visit https://sacoronavirus.co.za/ for clarifications on the above as well as any additional information. 

 

We’re just about 19 weeks into lockdown, and we’d love to hear from you. What have you learnt during this time? Do you have any hack or tips to share with us? Share with us on our Facebook page and member’s group. 




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At bsmart we help our members save, and payout cash-back bonuses every three months or annually. To learn more about bsmart contact us or click here to sign up directly through our website.