As of Thursday March 26, the lives of many South Africans will be fundamentally changed.

This is after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown on Monday night. This step - which the president said was drastic but necessary - will see millions of South Africans restricted to their homes and many services being unavailable.

But some people and businesses will be exempt, including:

• health workers in the public and private sectors;
• emergency personnel;
• those in security services - such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers - and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic;
• those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods;
• essential banking services;
• the maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services;
• laboratory services; and
• those in the provision of medical and hygiene products.

Ramaphosa said a full list of essential personnel would be published soon.

All shops and businesses will be closed, except for:

• pharmacies;
• laboratories;
• banks;
• essential financial and payment services, including the Johannesburg Stock Exchange;
• supermarkets;
• petrol stations; and
• healthcare providers.

"Any other businesses that are able to continue their operations remotely should do so," said Ramaphosa.