By: Natasha Archary
South Africans will have to live with life behind a mask as revised limited Covid-19 regulations were released on Wednesday, 04 May.
This as the previous regulations expired at midnight. Health Minister Joe Phaahla says the limited regulations were gazetted and would be in effect from Thursday, 5 May.
These include the use of face masks at any indoor public space, including public transport, events and work environments.
In addition, public comment on revised Covid-19 regulations have been extended until 5 July. The minister says this is to ensure the department has sufficient time to go through and consider all comments and representations on the regulations.
“In order to ensure that there is no gap in terms of legal instruments to contain the spread of COVID-19 and future notifiable medical conditions, the department has gazetted the limited regulations for implementation with effect from Thursday, 05 May 2022.”
The regulations come as the country reports 3,838 new cases, representing a 22.0% positivity rate.
New limited regulations
- With regards to wearing a face mask, a person must, when entering and being inside an indoor public space, wear a face mask.
- This does not apply to children at school. Again, under these limited regulations, no person may use any form of public transport unless wearing a face mask.
- Gathering are more clearly defined as planned assembly or meeting at a particular venue, involving more than one hundred persons.
- For any indoor and outdoor gatherings, a maximum of 50% of the venue capacity may be occupied provided that every attendee must be vaccinated and produce a valid vaccination certificate. Alternatively, attendees must produce a valid negative Covid-19 test result, not older than 72-hours prior to the date of the gathering.
- If complying with this indoor gathering requirement is not possible, then attendance shall be limited to 1000 people or 50% of the capacity, whichever is smaller, while the attendance at an outdoor gathering shall be limited to 2000 people or 50% of the capacity, whichever is smaller.
- All international travellers arriving at South African Ports of Entry must be vaccinated against Covid-19 and produce a valid vaccination certificate; or produce a valid negative PCR COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours before the date of departure.
- Alternatively, travellers have another option of producing a valid negative antigen COVID-19 test result performed by a medical practitioner, registered public health authority or accredited/approved laboratory obtained not older than 48 hours before the date of departure.
