Extension on COVID-19 regulation public comments

• Published date: 05 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has announced a three-month extension for public comments on health regulations relating to the management of COVID-19.

The comments relate to the Surveillance and Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions; Public Measures in Points of Entry; Management of Human Remains and Environmental Health by three months.

The extension was with effect from 5 May 2022. The new closing date for submission of comments is 5 July 2022.

In a statement, the department said the extension was in line with statutory requirements and would afford the department sufficient time to go through and consider all comments and representations on the regulations.

'All members of the public who submitted comments in the initial public consultation process do not need to resubmit these comments as all comments already submitted will be considered as part of this process.

'In order to ensure that there is no gap in terms of legal instruments to contain the spread of COVID-19 and future notifiable medical conditions, the department has gazetted the limited regulations for implementation with effect from Thursday, 05 May 2022,' reads the statement.

These regulations mainly focus on wearing of face masks, gatherings and persons entering the country.

With regards to the wearing of face masks, the department said a person must, when entering and being inside an indoor public place, wear a face mask.

'This does not apply to children at school. Again, under these limited regulations, no person may use any form of public transport unless wearing a face mask.

'Gatherings are more clearly defined as planned assembly or meeting at a particular venue involving more than one hundred persons.

'For any indoor and outdoor gatherings, a maximum of 50% of the venue capacity may be occupied provided that every attendee must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and produce a valid vaccination certificate. Alternatively, attendees must produce a valid negative COVID-19 test result not older than 72 hours prior to the date of the gathering,' said the department.

If complying with this indoor gathering requirement is not possible, then attendance shall be limited to 1000 people or 50% of the capacity, whichever is smaller, while the attendance at an outdoor gathering shall be limited to 2000 people or 50% of the capacity, whichever is smaller.

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