How South Africans could be living with masks in the future
We have to learn to live with them for a little longer...
We are in our second year of wearing face masks for protection against COVID-19.
The Department of Health confirmed that masks will still be a requirement in certain areas and circumstances once they lift the national state of disaster.
WATCH: Prof. Abdool Karim says SA ready to drop mask mandate
The South African government is still quite hesitant to let masks go completely, unlike the United Kingdom and other countries.
Which is why these rules were proposed as part of a long-term replacement to the rules we had this entire time during the national state of disaster.
On Wednesday (16 March), this is what was proposed:
- A person must, when in a gathering in an indoor place, wear a face mask or a homemade item that covers his or her nose and mouth;
- No person may be allowed to use any form of public transport, or enter public premises if they do not wear a face mask or a homemade item that covers his or her nose and mouth;
- An employer must provide employees with a cloth or shield face mask that covers the nose and mouth; and
- Indoor and outdoor gatherings may be occupied up to 50% of the venue capacity, provided valid vaccine certificates are produced and masks are worn.
READ MORE: Push to get more people jabbed as Covid vaccines set to expire
An important thing to note is that these changes are still in the proposal phase and could still be altered based on the public comment received.
We think that these are fair, absolutely safe for everyone around.
15 April is the cut off date for when the public can share their takes and comments on the above rules.
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Main Image Courtesy: Supplied