24 June 2022
The Department of Health in the Western Cape is encouraging voluntary wearing of masks especially by the elderly and people with underlying chronic conditions.
The department says while welcoming the scrapping of the wearing of masks announced by government, it has urged people to be mindful of their vulnerability as COVID-19 is still around.
Head of Operations in the Department Dr Saadiq Kariem says masks have proven to provide protection against airborne diseases.
“We encourage voluntary wearing of masks where applicable, this will be for people with flu symptoms, people with underlying chronic conditions and the elderly. Our data continues to show that vaccination offers the greatest protection against infection and death and therefore we implore anyone of 12 years and over to get their vaccination up to date including their boosters, we know that COVID is not gone but we are learning to live with it”
This after Health Minister Joe Phaahla gazetted a number of changes to COVID-19 regulations.
Limitations on gatherings as well as testing and vaccination requirements for visitors to South Africa are also scrapped.
These regulations were implemented as part of the national state of disaster since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country, two years ago.
