Mkhize: No change to Covid regulations until further notice
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says level 1 regulations will remain unchanged until further notice.
On Friday, Mkhize met with religious leaders and faith-based organisations in preparation for the mass vaccination campaign rollout later this month.
He told the sector that the restrictions to religious gatherings would only be reviewed in two weeks’ time.
The current restrictions were put in place before the Easter holidays.
“There will not be a change until there’s a new announcement made by the president.
“We are assessing the situation for the next two to three weeks to see if there’s any worsening that requires any change, therefore we will be guided as soon as there’s any change and then of course, the president will be the one to make an announcement,” Mkhize added.
#CovidVaccine | Health minister Zweli Mkhize thanks the religious sector for coming to the table, adding the restrictions to last year's Easter services "saved the country". pic.twitter.com/FYgVsYe1P2
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) April 9, 2021
Health experts are concerned that infections are likely to increase dramatically again following the Easter mass gatherings across the country.
But Mkhize said he hopes the second phase of the vaccine rollout will be implemented ahead of the possible surge in cases.
Government recently signed an agreement with vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, as well as Johnson & Johnson that will see millions more Covid jabs hit South African shores.
“We want to make sure that we vaccinate as many people as possible so we need to get to a point where we can vaccinate up to 250 000 people a day but that can only happen at a time when we’ve got enough vaccines, which will be late quarter three and late quarter four.
“The second phase is the one that’s going to be more complex for us. We have said we want to cover people with comorbidities, frontline workers and senior citizens who are more vulnerable.
“As we looked at the reports, it is clear that age is the biggest source of risk that makes people to suffer moderate, severe infections, as well as getting hospitalised, going to ICU or even dying so we want to rapidly target those over 60 years and those go on to target those over 40 years,” Mkhize explained.
The vaccine registration is expected to open to the general public later this month.
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