Staff Reporter
South Africans will no longer be required to wear masks while outdoors, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday night when he gave an update on national efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
The wearing of masks indoors however remains mandatory.
“As before, it is mandatory to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouth when in public indoor spaces,” said Ramaphosa in a televised address.
“However, a mask is not required when outdoors,” he added.
“This means that we still need to wear masks when in shops, malls, offices, factories, taxes, buses, trains or any other indoor public space.
“But 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.”
The president said after four waves of infection, fewer people are becoming severely ill and requiring hospitalisation.
He said there are far fewer deaths than before.
“Our scientists tell us that this is mainly because some 60 to 80 percent of the population has some form of immunity to the virus, either from previous infection or vaccination . . . we are now ready to enter a new phase in our management of the pandemic,” said Ramaphosa.
About 48 percent of all adults are believed to have received at least one vaccine dose.
Further to that, both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50 percent of their capacity provided that the criteria for entrance are proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours.
“But where there is no provision for proof of vaccination or a COVID test, then the current upper limit will remain – of 1 000 people indoors and 2 000 people outdoors,” he explained.
This change to the restrictions on gatherings, according the president, will be of great benefit to the sporting, cultural, entertainment and events industries, among others.
The maximum number of people permitted at a funeral will increase from 100 to 200.
However, night vigils as well as after-funeral and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are still not allowed.
The regulations on social distancing are also being changed, requiring that a space of one metre is maintained between persons in all settings except 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 unvaccinated travellers entering the country who want to be vaccinated will be offered a vaccination.
All measures are taking effect from this Wednesday.
Ramaphosa said in deciding which restrictions to ease and which to keep in place, they also looked to the experiences of other countries, including those where the complete lifting of restrictions has been followed by a surge in infections and deaths.