By: Natasha Archary
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced fewer restrictions on Covid-19 regulations on Tuesday evening. Addressing the country on the latest developments, Ramaphosa eased lockdown regulations for the use of masks outdoors.
Exactly two years since the pandemic hit SA and forced the country into a hard lockdown in 2020, the drastic and unprecedented measures to curb the spread of the virus is lifting.
The use of masks will still be required indoors, at the office, in malls, restaurants, buses, taxis, hospitals and any other public indoor space.
Ramaphosa said the change of not being required to wear a mask outdoors will benefit the sporting, cultural, entertainment and events industries in particular.
There are further conditions to outdoor events which entails a provision criteria for entrance in the form of a negative Covid-19 test not older than 72-hours.
This is if an individual has not been vaccinated and cannot provide a valid Covid-19 vaccination card when attending both indoor and outdoor events.
The approach going forward is that both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50% of their capacity provided that the criteria for entrance are proof of vaccination or a COVID test not older than 72 hours.https://t.co/H9PYdlyijF
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 22, 2022
Venues will still only be allowed to permit 50% capacity, provided people confirm they have either been vaccinated or are negative for Covid-19.
Where there isn’t provision for proof of vaccination or a Covid-19 test, the current limit will remain. This means venues will only allow 1000 people indoors and 2000 people outdoors.
The maximum number of people permitted at a funeral will increase from 100 to 200. However, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are still not allowed.
South Africans will not be required to wear a mask when walking or exercising outdoors and will still be expected to maintain a social distance of 1 metre, except in schools.
There are also changes to the regulations on international travel. Travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours.
All changes to the country’s Covid-19 regulations have been gazetted and come into effect on Wednesday, 23 March.
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