JOHANNESBERG: In light of the declining Covid-19 cases, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the country's national state of disaster to be over.

"While the pandemic is still ongoing and the virus is still present, these circumstances no longer necessitate that we stay in a state of national emergency. The pandemic would be addressed in accordance with the National Health Act in the future "On Monday, he made the announcement in a televised address.

 Ramaphosa announced that the government has chosen to lift the national state of calamity after 750 days of fighting the virus. The President noted that declaring a national catastrophe in March 2020 enabled the administration to take steps that avoided many more people from becoming seriously ill and saved many lives.

Certain components of the laws may be kept in force for a limited time under the Disaster Management Act for "post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation," he said adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has entered a new phase in South Africa.

"Although the fourth wave had a far higher number of infections than the prior waves, there were significantly fewer cases of serious illness, hospitalisation, and death." Ramaphosa stated that certain transitional procedures will be in place for 30 days after the national state of disaster was lifted to ensure that vital public health precautions and other services were not disrupted until the new National Health Act rules took effect.

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