Staff Reporter
South Africa has ended the national state of disaster put in place over two years ago to try and contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Monday evening, stating that while a host of control measures have now been removed, others such as the wearing of masks indoors and the number of people permitted at certain gatherings will remain in place.
“Since the requirements for a national state of disaster to be declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act are no longer met, cabinet has decided to terminate the national state of disaster with effect from midnight tonight,” he said.
According to the president, the Disaster Management Act provides that certain elements of the regulations may remain in place for a limited period for “post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation”.
As a result, certain transitional provisions will remain in place for a period of 30 days after the termination of the national state of disaster to ensure essential public health precautions and other necessary services are not interrupted while the new regulations in terms of the National Health Act come into effect.
“What this means is that all regulations and directions made in terms of the Disaster Management Act following the declaration of the national state of disaster in response to COVID-19 are repealed with effect from midnight tonight, with the exception of a few transitional measures,” Ramaphosa explained.
Among the measures to remain in place for a month, people will still be required to wear a face mask in an indoor public space to prevent transmission in high-risk places.
A mask is not required when outdoors.
The existing restrictions on gatherings will also remain in place as a transitional measure.
This means that both indoor and outdoor venues can take up to 50 percent of their capacity without any maximum limit, provided that proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours is required for entrance to the venue.
Where there is no provision for proof of vaccination or a COVID test, then the current upper limit of 1 000 people indoors and 2 000 people outdoors will remain.
The president also said the existing provisions with respect to international travel will remain in place.
This means that travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours.
If a traveller does not submit a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative COVID-19 test, they will be required to do an antigen test on arrival.
If they test positive for COVID-19, they will need to isolate for 10 days.
Ramaphosa said the payment of the special R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant will remain in place to allow the Department of Social Development to finalise the regulations that will allow the payment of the grant to continue.
The measures put in place for the extension of the validity of a learner’s licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle will remain in place.
“All other disaster regulations will fall away at midnight tonight. These include regulations on isolation of persons, on schools and access to old age homes, on public transport, on initiation practices, on cargo transportation, and on criminalisation of non-adherence to these rules,” Ramaphosa said.
“The end of the national state of disaster also means that the coronavirus alert levels will no longer apply,” he added.
“The few transitional measures that remain are limited in scope, and allow almost all social and economic activity to resume as normal.
“They are essential to reduce the risk of a further COVID-19 wave and further disaster.”
South Africa has been under a national state of disaster for a total of 750 days in response to a global health crisis that posed a grave threat to the lives and the well-being of the people.
The declaration of the national state of disaster on 15 March 2020 empowered the government to take the measures that prevented many more people from becoming severely ill and saved countless lives.
These measures were effective in slowing down the rate of infection, easing pressure on hospitals and providing the time needed to develop the infrastructure, resources and capacity to manage a large number of people who became ill as a result of COVID-19.
During the third wave in July last year, the highest average daily number of COVID-related deaths recorded was 420.
In the fourth wave, in February this year, the highest daily number of COVID-related deaths was 240.
In the past week, this number has dropped to just 12.
Of the 108 000 regular beds in the country, only 1 805 are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients.
And of the 5 600 ICU beds in the country, only 175 are occupied by COVID-19 patients.