South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced ease of Covid-19 containment measures which will take effect from Wednesday.
In his address to the nation on Tuesday, the president said there is no need to wear masks when walking on the street or in an open space, when exercising outdoors or when attending an outdoor gathering.
He, however, said citizens will have to wear masks when in shops, malls, offices, factories, taxes, buses, trains or any other indoor public space.
“These measures will take effect from tomorrow, Wednesday the 23rd of March 2022, once the new regulations are gazetted. With these changes, almost all restrictions on social and economic activity will have been lifted,” Ramaphosa said.
Before the country curbed the spread of Covid, it was mandatory for all citizens to wear a cloth mask or similar covering over the nose and mouth when in public indoor spaces.
He also said going forward, both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50 per cent of their capacity provided that the criteria for entrance is proof of vaccination or a Covid test not older than 72 hours.
In previous regulations, the emphasis was on placing an upper limit on the number of people who could attend a gathering.
The president said the move was reached based on consultations and the recommendations of the National Coronavirus Command Council.
South Africa becomes the second county in Africa to make such changes after Kenya, which lifted the mandatory wearing of masks.
