A special Cabinet meeting held yesterday, January 31, has approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations.
This follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) which received updates on the management of COVID-19 in South Africa.
The information gathered through the system used by the Department of Health has reported that South Africa has exited the fourth wave nationally.
Based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the levels of vaccination in the country, Cabinet has decided to make adjustments to Alert Level 1 with immediate effect.
- Those who test positive with no symptoms do not have to isolate.
- If you test positive with symptoms, the isolation period has been reduced from 10 to 7 days.
- Contacts do not have to isolate unless they develop symptoms.
- Schools will go back to full-time learning. Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance.
- The regulatory provision for social distancing of 1 meter for learners in schools has also been removed.
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.
