Govt mulls dropping outdoor mask mandate

But this only applies to outdoor settings.

Proposals are on the table to ease the mandate more than a year after it was implemented.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced stringent Covid-19 regulations in December 2020, including compulsory masks indoors and outdoors.

On Thursday, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma revealed the country would likely readjust restrictions as Covid numbers remain relatively low.

READ: Eskom to knock load shedding down to stage 3 on Thursday night

Dlamini-Zuma made the comments in Pretoria following a meeting with the National House of Traditional Leaders and a delegation of Khoi San leaders.

"It is suggested that indoors, the masks must continue being worn in gatherings indoors but outdoors when people are walking and jogging, then they can leave the masks," she told delegates.

She added social distancing would remain in place but measured at one metre and not the current 1.5 metres.

"When it comes to the numbers of gatherings, (the Department of) Health is suggesting that we can move to fill 50% of the venue so if your venue takes 10 000, you can now have 5 000 people - provided they are vaccinated."

While the country has made some progress in its fight against Covid-19, efforts to vaccinate at least 70% of the population have stalled.