New proposal to change National Health Act’s regulations on notifiable diseases

South Africa’s health minister Zweli Mkhize has published new proposals to change the National Health Act’s regulations on notifiable diseases.

The proposed amendments will extend the government’s powers to deal with the coronavirus and other health issues by allowing the health minister to impose ‘necessary restrictions’ to manage and control the spread of medical conditions.

The regulations would allow the minister to impose restrictions which include:

• The complete or partial closing of any public place including a place used
  for public receptions, tourist activities or events or public recreation,
  amusement or entertainment activities or events;
• Prohibiting or regulating the holding of or attendance at any public
  meeting, public reception, or any gathering within a district, province or
  nationally;
• Prohibiting or regulating inter-district or provincial movement of persons;
• Prohibiting or regulating the movement of persons at points of entry;
• Regulating specified hours requiring persons to remain indoors; and
• The complete or partial closing of any educational institution.

South Africa’s National State of Disaster under the Disaster Management Act is set to expire on Thursday, 15 October.

However, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will likely extend the national state of disaster as the government relies on the regulations to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

More: BusinessTech