President Ramaphosa has announced that the national state of disaster will be lifted as soon as the draft regulations are finalized. The regulations have been released for public comment. The President added that this doesn’t mean that the pandemic is over but rather that we are learning to live with it.
Based on those consultations and the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Command Council, Cabinet has decided to ease several restrictions as part of Adjusted Alert Level 1;
- Going forward, both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50% of capacity provided that the criteria for entrance, i.e proof of vaccination or a COVID test not older than 72 hours is provided.
- The maximum number of people permitted at a funeral will increase from 100 to 200. As before, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are still not allowed.
- As before, it is mandatory to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouth when in public indoor spaces.
- A mask is no longer required when outdoors.
- Travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours.
- These measures will take effect from tomorrow, Wednesday the 23rd of March 2022, once the new regulations are gazetted. With these changes, almost all restrictions on social and economic activity will be lifted, while the state of disaster remains in place for now.
