Health Department publishes new Covid-19 rules

The new regulations were published an hour before the old, draft regulations were due to expire at midnight on Wednesday.

In March, government lifted the national state of disaster and the Covid-19 lockdown.

This meant the Act, which was used to manage the disease for two years also fell away, and government instead introduced new draft regulations under the National Health Act to manage Covid-19 for 30 days. 

The 30 days has now expired.

The department's spokesperson Foster Mohale says the wearing of masks will continue.

“These regulations mainly focus on wearing of face masks, gatherings and persons entering the country. With regards to wearing a face mask, 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."

The existing rules around indoor and outdoor gatherings remain in place.

A maximum of 50% of the venue capacity may be occupied as long as everyone is 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," says Mohale.

 “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."

The department has also extended the period for public comments on additional new health regulations by three months.

SEE FULL GAZZETTED REGULATIONS BELOW: