South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday relaxed almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions as the number of new cases and related hospitalizations and deaths in the country continue to decline, reported Africa News.
Addressing the nation, President Ramaphosa said it was no longer necessary for people to wear masks in an outdoors setting, while exercising outdoors or jogging, or attending an outdoor gathering. However, he said they would still need to wear masks inside public transport, offices, and malls.
“With these changes, almost all restrictions on social and economic activity will have been lifted,” the president said.
Notably, the South African government’s current limitation of 1 000 people indoors and 2 000 outdoors would still apply in case of gatherings.
Traveling restrictions have also been relaxed. Fully vaccinated inbound visitors to the country won’t be required to produce a PCR or antigen Covid-19 test. But, unvaccinated travelers will have to produce a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. Previously all travelers entering the country were required to produce a costly negative PCR test.
The changes come as the South African government prepares to lift the state of disaster.
Ramaphosa said the country was ready and better prepared for what lay ahead in the next chapter of Covid-19.
“We are now learning to live with the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Reflecting on the last two years, he said implementation of the lockdown was “drastic and unprecedented but it helped to delay the spread of the virus”.
He highlighted how the pandemic had had a devastating impact on the economy with scores of businesses being closed and almost two million jobs threatened but he also hailed how the country took unprecedented actions which led to the bettering of the country’s health system, built more hospitals and labs and ensured Covid-19 patients were cared for.
The South African president said fewer people were becoming ill and there were fewer deaths than before.
