Cape Town – The wearing of masks outdoors is no longer compulsory, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday evening.
Ramaphosa said this, as he addressed the nation on Covid-19 developments.
His announcement came as there has been a steady decline in the number of coronavirus cases countrywide over the past few weeks.
“After four waves of infection, fewer people are becoming severely ill and requiring hospitalisation. There are far fewer deaths than before.
There are also important 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. However, a mask is not required when outdoors.https://t.co/H9PYdlyijF
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 22, 2022
“Based on those consultations and the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Command Council, Cabinet has decided to ease several restrictions as part of Adjusted Alert Level 1,” said Ramaphosa.
He said that as before, “it is mandatory to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouth when in public indoor spaces. However, a mask is not required when outdoors”.
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Ramaphosa said the Cabinet intended to lift the National State of Disaster that came into effect two years ago.
“We intend to lift the national state of disaster as soon as public comment on the regulations published by the minister of health have been completed.
“These regulations when finalised, will replace the state of disaster as the legal instrument that we use to manage the pandemic,” he said.
South Africa has been under a state of disaster since the country recorded its first Covid case in March 2020.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
