Covid-19: Runners and smokers in a huff because of level 4 restrictions

After 35-days of hard lockdown the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for many South Africans came in the form of the light at the end of a nicotine-filled stick, and the prospect of yet again being able to buy cigarettes as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Citing reasons relating to health and the transmission of Covid-19, the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made the announcement that cigarettes will not be sold on Wednesday, 29 April which will apply from Friday, 1 May as the lockdown regulations are relaxed from level 5 to level 4.

Further concerns were raised on the fact that exercise would only be permitted between 6am and 9am with this needing to happen within a 5 km radius of your home, begging the important question….. “proof of residence?”

This is how Twitter users reacted to the news:

Cigarettes:

#Cigarettes smokers did not hear anything else after they announced the ban of cigarettes, they just became deaf the entire conference. pic.twitter.com/2KcPJFuodn

— Eunice (@EuniceSmyle) April 29, 2020

But You said the sale
of #Cigarettes will be
Allowed. Me: pic.twitter.com/ENk3MqrGRl

— Khuthie Munyai (@khuthadzomunyai) April 29, 2020

Ramaphosa right now, when the Real President of South Africa announced that Cigarettes are banned again. #Cigarettes#dlaminizuma pic.twitter.com/hGoTIqLAr2

— Mabina (@thatomatsobane1) April 29, 2020

https://twitter.com/Mtho_GP/status/1255578113905491969?s=19

So this means I still have to smoke teabags #Cigarettes pic.twitter.com/3LM901hMV2

— LUVH8 (@Ceejayexclusive) April 29, 2020

Exercise:

Take the restrictions on outdoor exercise. Why 6 to 9am? Makes no sense, especially in winter in the WC. Why no clarity on whether your child must go for a walk outside alone, or you can go together? One shouldn't have to get a legal opinion to understand what's allowed.

— Jonathan Berger (@Jon_M_Berger) April 30, 2020

The announced restrictions are like a 'Wundertüte' (German word …a gift bag where you don't know what to expect)..again cigarettes ban..no online wine orders.. exercise 6am till 9am? All this make us think ..there is no rational plan…

— Annette Beller-Sogor (@Travel1Wine2Art) April 30, 2020

Sadly the illegal trade of cigarettes is the only one here that is going to benefit. Why the restrictions on exercise between 6-9, isn’t that then when the majority is all out shouldn’t it be spaced out more?

— zee martinho (@zee_martinho) April 30, 2020

Restrictions do not mean better control.
A 3 hr window means everyone will exercise at that time. Which means the number of people will peak during that period.

I guess flattening curve only works for the virus and not for anything else. It's simple math.

— El Hefe (@The_fusse) April 30, 2020

The smoking regulations are inconsistent. First allowed, now not allowed. I fail to understand why. The exercise times are also hard to understand. 6am is still dark. Everyone will be on road between 8 to 9am if they can. No other country has such hard lockdown restrictions.

— Detlef Pohl (@DetlefPohl) April 30, 2020

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