Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has closed all beaches for the festive season as Covid-19 cases soar in the province.

According to Eyewitness News (EWN), spokesperson for the premier Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha said the provincial government and its municipalities took the decision to close beaches and parks as these areas pose a high risk of spreading the virus.

Sicwetsha said this decision formed part of the province’s safety plan during the holiday season to curb the spread of the coronavirus and that keeping such facilities open posed a huge risk.

According to real-time data portal Worldometer, South Africa currently has 860,964 cases of Covid-19 with 23,276 deaths and 761,011 recoveries.

The national Health Department said that by Sunday, December 13, the Eastern Cape made up 17.3% of the country’s Covid-19 cases, with 148,528 infections.

The Eastern Cape currently has 16,287 active cases, with 5,493 deaths and 126,748 recoveries.

According to news broadcaster eNCA, Sicwetsha said part of the province’s safety plan also included the banning of initiation schools’ “imgidi” celebrations as they are considered to pose a Covid-19 risk.

A week ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the Nelson Mandela Bay region in the province a coronavirus hot spot and implemented restrictions in the area.

The curfew, which begins at midnight across South Africa, was changed for the Nelson Mandela Bay region to 10pm until 4am. Indoor gatherings were limited to 100 people and the consumption of alcohol in public was prohibited.