News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Tuesday evening following a meeting with the Presidential Command Council (PCC) and announced significant changes to the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
He noted that most of the restrictions on economic activity had already been lifted – and now they were able to ease the restrictions further. Ramaphosa said the restrictions on gatherings were being significantly changed. In previous regulations, the emphasis was on placing an upper limit on the number of people who could attend a gathering. "The approach going forward is that both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50 percent of their capacity, provided that the criteria for entrance is proof of vaccination or a Covid 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," Ramaphosa advised. He said the maximum number of people permitted at a funeral would increase from 100 to 200, however, night vigils and 'after-tears' gatherings would still be prohibited. The president announced crucial changes to the regulation on the wearing of masks. "As before, it is mandatory to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouth when in public indoor spaces… But we do not need to wear masks when walking in the street or in an open space, when exercising outdoors or when attending an outdoor gathering," he indicated.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24
- Read too, State of disaster to be lifted soon, relaxed level 1 regulations kick in on Wednesday, at The Citizen
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page