South Africa, which has been under Level 1 lockdown of the coronavirus regulations, has approved the easing of some measures with immediate effect following its exit from the fourth wave of the pandemic nationwide, cabinet has announced.
The National Coronavirus Command Council and the President’s Coordinating Council, which received updates on the management of Covid-19 in the country, approved the lifting of the restrictions based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the levels of vaccination in the country, cabinet said after its weekly meeting on Monday.
Under the new arrangement, those who test positive for Covid-19 but have no symptoms would no longer need to isolate themselves, the cabinet said.
The isolation period was reduced from 10 to seven days for individuals who test positive and have symptoms, it added.
“The rationale for these amendments is informed by the proportion of people with immunity to Covid-19, which has risen substantially – exceeding 60% to 80% in several sero-surveys,” Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said.
Briefing reporters after the meeting in Pretoria, Gungubele said cabinet had also reviewed the resumption of education to full-time learning in all schools nationwide.
“Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision for social distancing of one metre for learners in schools has also been removed,” Gungubele said.
He added: “We also remind those who are yet to get vaccinated to go for their Covid-19 vaccination and continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus.”
NM/jn/APA