Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has said that government can declare the National State of Disaster again should COVID-19 infections increase.
The termination of the National State of Disaster comes 750 days since the country went into its initial lockdown on 15 March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19.
According to Dlamini Zuma, although the COVID-19 pandemic no longer qualified as a disaster the country will be in a 30-day transitional post-disaster management period that will be legislated accordingly.
“If we look after ourselves, wear masks and make sure that we do what needs to be done… we may avoid a situation where this pandemic becomes a disaster again. That is what we’re hoping for. In the event that it becomes a disaster, we will have to revert back to the Act,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
The Minister indicated that, since the pandemic was still existent, the government needed to introduce transitional measures which were allowed by the DMA and were post-disaster measures.
“The post-disaster management measures and rehabilitation measures require that the wearing of masks continue for at least another 30 days for indoor gatherings. Masks are not necessary for outdoor gatherings,” Dlamini-Zuma added.
As of today the cumulative number of #COVID19 cases identified in SA is 3 725 177 with 1 538 new cases reported. Today 15 deaths have been reported bringing the total to 100 067 deaths. The cumulative number of recoveries now stand at 3 613 688 with a recovery rate of 97,0% pic.twitter.com/6zgdQbM0Nj
— Department of Health (@HealthZA) April 5, 2022
Meanwhile, travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours.
However, if travellers do not submit a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative COVID-19 test, they will be required to do an antigen test on arrival and if they test positive, they will need to isolate for 10 days, while the existing provisions with respect to international travel remain in place.
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Picture: Cape{town}Etc gallery