Ramaphosa says to end national state of disaster over Covid-19 soon

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday the government intended to end the national state of disaster over Covid-19 soon, and would ease some restrictive regulations that have hampered the economy for two years from Wednesday.

The state of disaster, which has been in place since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, was extended last week and was due to expire on April 15, drawing criticism from businesses hard hit by the restrictions announced two years ago.

Watch/read: LIVE ARCHIVE: President Ramaphosa eases several Covid-19 restrictions

Based on recommendations by the National Coronavirus Command Council, Cabinet has eased several restrictions effective Wednesday, March 23, once the new regulations are gazetted:

• Both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50% of their capacity subject to entrees showing proof of vaccination or a
  Covid test not older than 72 hours. Without such provisions, the current upper limits of 1 000 people indoors and 2 000 people outdoors remain.
• The maximum number of people permitted at a funeral will increase from 100 to 200, with a two-hour limit in place
  Night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and ‘after-tears’ gatherings are still not allowed.
  While it’s still mandatory to wear a mask in public indoor spaces, it’s no longer required outdoors (i.e. when “walking on the street or in an open space, when exercising outdoors or when attending an outdoor gathering”)
• Regarding social distancing, a space of one metre is to be maintained between persons in all settings except schools.
  Travellers entering South Africa must show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. Unvaccinated travellers entering the country who want to be vaccinated will be offered a vaccination.

The president said that while over 68% of people older than 60 years have been vaccinated against Covid-19, only 35% of people between 18 and 35 years have been vaccinated. Its #KeReady campaign launched last month aims to increase vaccinations in this age cohort.