Masks not going away anytime soon, says government
The rules relating to masks are set to exist even longer as they form part of the Department of Health’s proposed regulations which, once approved, will be implemented in the absence of the Covid-19 disaster management act.
The wearing of masks will continue to remain compulsory for indoor gatherings and in public indoor spaces beyond the end of the coronavirus national disaster restrictions.
This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised address last week while giving an update on the government’s response to Covid-19.
“This means that we still need to wear masks when in shops, malls, offices, factories, taxis, buses, trains or any other indoor public space,” Ramaphosa said.
“However, we do not need to wear masks when walking on the street or in an open space, when exercising outdoors or when attending an outdoor gathering.”
Ramaphosa said further easing of restrictions would be done when more people got vaccinated.
In Tshwane, 2 144 212 vaccines have been administered.
The rules relating to masks are set to exist even longer as they form part of the Department of Health’s proposed regulations which, once approved, would be implemented in the absence of the Covid-19 disaster management act.
According to the department’s regulations, indoor and outdoor gatherings may occupy up to 50% of the venue capacity if people provided valid vaccine certificates, exercise 1m social distancing and wear masks for indoors gatherings.
Without proof of vaccination, indoor gatherings are limited to only 1 000 people and 2 000 for outdoors.
The department further stipulated that all people leaving the country must have a full valid vaccination certificate. If not, one should have tested negative for the virus with a PCR test not more than 72 hours old. This was the same case for all of those entering SA from a different country.
The regulations further stipulated that hospital visits may be restricted by management of the facilities guided by evidence of risk of transmission.
Funeral attendance during Covid-19 pandemic must be restricted to 100 persons and night vigils, after-funeral gatherings are still prohibited.
Health spokesperson Forster Mohale said these regulations, once approved, would be implemented within the department.
“Thus, all interested parties, both individuals and stakeholders are invited to submit their comments or representations within 30 days from the date of publishing [March 15] to make sure their voices are heard.”
The process was set to close by the latest Friday, April 15, 2022.
Public comments relating to the regulations can be sent to: Tsakani.furumele@health.gov.za
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams said he believed that it was time that the national disaster management act was lifted.
He said the extension of the act to April 15 was “totally irrational”, adding that “there was no consultation on this matter”.
“It is deeply frustrating that the national government continues to hamper post-Covid economic recovery and growth in the country,” Williams said.
While restrictions remain, DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party would take the government to court over the extended state of disaster. The party has called for the scrapping of all Covid-19 regulations.
“The science now tells us that the lockdown is unnecessary, irrational and unreasonable,” Steenhuisen said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs, thousands of livelihoods have been destroyed, millions of school and university days have been missed, and billions of rands have been lost to tax revenue, which could have gone to poverty relief.”
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