Here is a list of updated limited Covid-19 restrictions
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Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said that while Covid-19 restrictions were eased, people should still keep in mind that virus is with us and will continue to be with us for a while.
As restrictions were eased, Minister continued to encourage people to keep on wearing their masks especially in confined spaces.
The announcement on certain regulations being relaxed was made President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 4 who said certain regulations like wearing of a mask will stay in place for next 30 days which was set to expire May 4th by midnight.
This was made to allow for new health regulations in terms of the National Health Act to come into effect.
Health Minister Dr Phaahla published updated regulations which read that masks should continue to be worn among other there regulations.
Mandatory protocols when in a public place (as updated on 4 April 2022)
• For the purposes of these Regulations, a ‘face mask’ means a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers the nose and mouth, or another appropriate item to cover the nose and mouth.
• The wearing of a face mask is mandatory for every person when in an indoor public place, excluding a child under the age of six years.
• No person will be allowed to-
(a) use, operate, perform any service on any form of public transport; or
(b) enter or be in a building, place or premises, including government buildings, places or premises, used by the public to obtain goods or services, if he or she is not wearing a face mask.
• All persons in an open public space need not wear a face mask but must maintain a distance of at least one metre from another person.
(b) The school environment is excluded from the requirement of maintaining a distance of at least one metre from another person.
• An employer may not allow any employee to perform any duties or enter the employment premises if the employee is not wearing a face mask while performing his or her duties.
Gatherings (as updated on 4 April 2022)
• All gatherings, including faith-based or religious, social, political and cultural, gatherings at restaurants, bars, shebeens and taverns; gatherings at conferencing, exhibitions, dining, gyms, fitness centres, casinos and entertainment, facilities, gatherings at venues hosting auctions including agricultural auctions, sporting activities, including both professional and non-professional matches, by recognised sporting bodies, where persons who are-
(a) fully vaccinated and in possession of a valid vaccination certificate; or
(b) unvaccinated but in possession of a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 test, recognised by the World Health Organisation, which was obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of the gathering, are allowed at up to 50% of the capacity of the venue: Provided that entry to the venue is conditional upon production of a valid certificate as referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) and subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
• All gatherings, including faith-based or religious, social, political and cultural, gatherings at restaurants, bars, shebeens and taverns; gatherings at conferencing, exhibitions, dining, gyms, fitness centres, casinos and entertainment facilities, gatherings at venues hosting auctions including agricultural auctions, sporting activities, including both professional and non-professional matches, by recognised sporting bodies, where persons who are-
(a) not fully vaccinated or in possession of a valid vaccination certificate; or
(b) unvaccinated and not in possession of a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 test, recognised by the World Health Organisation, which was obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of the gathering, are allowed but limited to 1000 persons or less for indoor venues and 2000 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one metre from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
• An owner or operator of any indoor or outdoor facility where gatherings are held must display the certificate of occupancy which sets out the maximum number of persons the facility may hold.
• Gatherings at a workplace for work purposes are allowed, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
• Hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts and guest houses are allowed full capacity of the available rooms for accommodation, with patrons wearing face masks and observing a distance of at least one metre from each other when in common spaces.
