By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
As of Sunday, 20 March, the cumulative number of detected Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 3,704,218 with 889 new cases identified.
This represents a 5.0% positivity rate, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed.
2 Covid-19 related deaths – of which 2 occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours – was reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 99,881.
The Department of Health has dismissed messages circulating on social media about the new proposed Covid-19 rules and mandatory vaccinations as fakes news.
Messages saying that the government is moving ahead with the new health regulations and mandatory vaccination policy next month has been making rounds.
But the department has labelled these claims as fake news.
The fake news comes after the department published the draft regulations this week as government aims to move the country out of the national state of disaster.
The proposed regulations will be part of the National Health Act.
The regulations will ensure there are enough protective measures in order to manage the current Covid-19 pandemic as well as future outbreaks.
The proposals include a limit on the number of unvaccinated people for indoor activities and, that the mask mandate for indoor gatherings stay in place.
Government will still have the discretion to decide on other restrictions such as curfew, sport activities, lockdowns, economic activities, the sale of alcohol, among others.
The draft rules also lay out the requirements for self-isolation, as opposed to being directed to a government facility, among others.
South African citizens have 30 days – until 15 April, which is the day the State of Disaster will come to an end following the latest extension – to share their thoughts on the regulations.