- In a letter to MECs, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla recommends the country drop mask mandates and restrictions on gatherings.
- He says the country has exited the 5th wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- On Wednesday, officials will hold a meeting to discuss dropping regulations.
For the first time since March 2020, South Africans might soon be able to rid themselves of masks entirely.
According to a letter Health Minister Joe Phaahla sent out to MECs, the country has exited the 5th wave and can, therefore, consider repealing Covid-19 regulations.
Currently, wearing masks is compulsory in indoor spaces, including shopping malls and public transport. There is also a 50% cap on the number of people allowed in a venue if people are fully vaccinated, or if people can show their negative Covid-19 tests.
The letter also recommends that the country drop its entry requirements for travellers. At the moment, travellers are expected to show a vaccination certificate, or a negative Covid-19 test.
At long last coming to grips with the reality. Effective end of Covid restrictions. Now to work on the collateral economic and other damage of what was self inflicted due to stubbornness of not following the science. pic.twitter.com/Z57XHOVd9k
— Shabir Madhi (@ShabirMadh) June 20, 2022
Phaahla, in the letter, said at the time the rules were promulgated, "the status of the epidemic was very concerning and unpredictable".
At the time, he said, new daily reported Covid-19 cases in mid-April were less than 250 a day and had increased to 3 097 by 24 April.
"By 1 May, the figure had risen to 4 693 (1 777.2% increase in reported infections in the space of two weeks preceding the decision to activate the regulations on promulgation). By 15 May, the figure had increased to 7 685 reported cases – a 2 974% increase."
Phaahla said the department had been monitoring the 5th wave with the help of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
He said:
As of mid-June 2022, there had been a decline in the number of new daily cases, hospitalisation and reported deaths, he said.
A special President's Coordinating Council (PCC) is expected to be held on Wednesday to discuss the regulations.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has thrown his support behind the move to drop the mask mandate, as well as other Covid-19 restrictions. He confirmed he would be attending the PCC meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Winde said he was hoping to see "an end to all Covid-19 curbs".
Winde said:
He added that it was now up to individuals to demonstrate personal responsibility by using all the knowledge that they had learnt over the last two years.
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