Govt in talks to lower lockdown level: Phaahla
Health Minister Joe Phaahla says talks are underway to move the country to a lower lockdown level.
"We are discussing this on a weekly basis. We are encouraged by the declining numbers. We will do our analysis from the Health Department also advised by our ministerial advisory committee," Phaahla says.
"If there is indeed a sustained decline, we are hoping that KZN also will start to decline because the rest of the country generally is on a downward stabilisation. So we will continue to assess this. We will give a report to the president."
Phaahla briefed the media in Gauteng on Friday morning on government efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
He says they'll rely on the advice of experts.
"If it becomes clear that there is stability and the infections rates are defiantly stabilising, we will give the necessary advise. So you can look forward to some more relaxations."
Phaala says government's thinking about offering soft incentives to encourage more people to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
"People are hungry for entertainment, for music festivals to go to Orlando Stadium to go and watch a soccer match, so what we are exploring is a possibility where with some kind of confirmation that you are vaccinated we could start opening up various activities to say if you are vaccinated so many people can go to a soccer stadium."
Phaala's shared their views on mandatory shots.
"At this stage, it is not our priority to even start thinking about some kind of legislation or regulation which says every adult must vaccinate. That is not our priority, so we want to just observe that debate."
