President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation in the coming days regarding the removal of the National State of Disaster.
Ramaphosa responded to oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday, 17 March where he indicated that public consultations with leaders from different sectors of society are underway.
Earlier this week, the Department of Health published the proposed health regulations to deal with COVID-19 and other notifiable medical conditions outside the National State of Disaster.
“We have met with traditional leaders, we have met with various other leaders, as well as religious leaders, we are going to lift the State of Disaster and we are going to put in place health regulations that will enable everyone to feel safe but at the same time, we want to boost vaccination,” Ramaphosa said.
The new proposed regulations seek to introduce a number of control measures which include the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions. The proposed regulations also indicate that unvaccinated people entering or exiting the country during the pandemic should present negative PRC test results not older than 72 hours.
This rescinds the current requirement of negative PRC test results for all incoming travellers, with or without a vaccination certificate.
Also read: Government extends the national state of disaster until 15 April
According to Ramaphosa, although the government plans to lift the National State of Disaster, there are certain measures that will need to be kept in place in order to enable the government to manage the pandemic.
“The pandemic is still here with us, COVID-19 has not suddenly just disappeared through the door or the window and we are still concerned about those people who get infected,” Ramaphosa said.
The President went on to say that the interests of citizens, when it comes to their lives and livelihoods, has been his greatest preoccupation for the better part of the last two years.
“I want to see the State of Disaster coming to an end but I am not going to be reckless and I am going be orderly and in days, I am going to address the nation and explain precisely where we are headed to and how we should traverse this new route that we are going on,” Ramaphosa adds.
Challenging whether the National State of Disaster will ever end is the Democratic Alliance, who have opted to take the matter to court.
Also read: The DA is racing to lockdown’s finish line by taking matters to court
Meanwhile, the attendance of indoor gatherings without proof of vaccination will only be limited to only 1000 people and 2000 for outdoors with social distancing of at least one-metre social distance.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery