It’s anticipated that government will end the National State of Disaster sometime next month or in May.

President Cyril Ramaphosa  announced that the Covid-19 disaster management regulations will be replaced by health regulations once they are finalised.

The draft regulations are out for public comment until mid April. He indicates that this shift means that the country is learning to live with the virus in the presence, returning, as far as possible, to the lives that South Africans lived pre-pandemic, and the further opening of the economy.

After four waves – Covid-19 cases have been low, fewer people are becoming severely ill or requiring hospitalisation. There has also been a decline in deaths.

Scientists have mainly attributed this to the some 60 to 80% of the population that has built immunity to the virus. Both through a previous infection – natural immunity – or vaccination.

Social distancing has been kept in place but has been reduced to one metre except for schools. Mask wearing outside has been dropped.

This as government is subtly pushing for people to get the Covid-19 vaccine. It says both indoor and outdoor venues can now take up to 50 percent of their capacity on condition that people attending provide proof of vaccination or produce a negative Covid test that is not older than 72 hours.

Those opting for the latter will need to fork out up to R500 while vaccination is free.