Masks during vigorous exercise ruled unsafe

Regulations published in the latest government gazette state the mask wearing law “shall not apply to a person who undertakes vigorous exercise in a public place, provided that the person maintains a distance of at least one and a half metres from any other person”.

Health minister Zweli Mkhize is still to announce exactly what constitutes a vigorous workout.

The regulations go on to outline that the following spaces require the mandatory wearing of masks:

Public transport, and any building used to obtain goods and services.

Employers must also ensure that no employee may perform any duties or enter work premises without wearing a face mask.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) updated its mask wearing guidelines last month, saying masks should not be worn during intense physical activity, as wearing them can lead to significant negative cardiovascular and pulmonary effects in both healthy people and those with underlying respiratory diseases.

“Sweat may also make a mask wet, further hindering breathing and encouraging the growth of microorganisms,” the WHO warned.

Level 3 lockdown regulations state that “the wearing of a face mask is mandatory for every person when in a public place, and any person who fails to comply with a verbal instruction by an enforcement officer to wear a face mask, commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine or a period of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months”.

While the rules are set on a national basis under the powers of the Disaster Management Act, fines are determined by magistrates’ districts that specify how much police should fine you for breaking those rules.

Districts can also specify which offences do not allow for an admission of guilt without a court appearance.

In terms of the act, South Africans can face hefty fines varying between R1 000 and R5 000.

The fines vary from province to province.