New Level 1 lockdown rules for South Africa

A special Cabinet meeting held on the 31 January 2022, has approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations.

This follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council and the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) which received updates on the management of COVID-19 in South Africa.

The changes include the following:

• Those who test positive with no symptoms will not be required to isolate.
• For those who test positive and have symptoms, the isolation period has been reduced from 10 to 7 days.
• Contacts of those who have tested positive do not have to isolate unless they develop symptoms.

Cabinet also reviewed the resumption of schooling to full-time learning in all schools. This means that primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance.

In addition, the regulatory provision 1m social distancing for learners in schools has been scrapped.

Cabinet says the rationale for these amendments is informed by the proportion of people with immunity to Covid-19 which has risen substantially.

The Ministers of Health and Basic Education will in the coming days issue directives reflecting on this new approach.

Government commends all South Africans who continue to observe COVID-19 regulations and protocols.

Those who are yet to get vaccinated are reminded to go for their COVID-19 vaccination and continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus.

References:

https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/554496/new-level-1-lockdown-rules-for-south-africa-including-changes-for-schools/