No more masks – Berea community reacts
The wearing of mandatory face masks outdoors was re-implemented in May when infection rates climbed drastically during the fifth wave.
NEWS spread quickly as Health Minister Joe Phaahla announced on Wednesday, June 22 that Covid-19 face masks would no longer be mandatory in South Africa.
In a letter, Phaahla added that the Covid-19 vaccination status would no longer be checked at the South African border for people entering the country, and limits on gatherings would be lifted.
Infection rates have since slowed down.
What does the community think?
Berea Mail took to the streets today, Thursday, June 23 to find out what the local community thinks about stepping out bare-faced.
We asked residents if they will opt to continue wearing masks despite the new ruling and how the pandemic has impacted their lives.
ALSO READ: Wearing of Covid-19 masks to be reviewed
Raymond Perrier
“I will keep my mask on when indoors or in a crowded place – Covid-19 has not disappeared! I have gotten used to wearing a mask – my biggest problem is my glasses misting up. I have been vaccinated three times, and we (at Denis Hurley Centre) have been leading the country in making sure that undocumented people can also get the vaccine.”
Audrey Thabede
“The ban being lifted is okay, but the problem is that we don’t know if Covid-19 is really gone or not. I think we’ll be safer if we carry on wearing masks for a while longer. Even though the ban has been uplifted, I think people should still wear masks if they want to.”
ALSO READ: SA Gov suspends mask-wearing
Laverne Swartz
“I don’t think Covid-19 is over – the numbers are going up steadily in the hospitals. So, wherever I go, I will wear my mask. I will no longer take taxis; I will take a bus where you can sanitise your hands as you can get in and you have to wear your mask. With all the people who think it’s okay to not wear your mask, I fear for them. When I go home, I have grandchildren at home, and I cannot be putting them at risk by not wearing a mask.”
Baruani Yamuremye
“With regards to masks, I wasn’t really into it in the first place, I hated wearing them, so when I found out that it was lifted, I was glad to hear it. The mask irritates my face. I’m happy to abide by this new face-mask mandate.”
Eric Ciza
“I won’t wear a mask anymore. Now that no one will arrest me, I can just throw the mask away. I’m not happy to wear a mask – it makes it hard to breathe and could lead to other issues with the lungs. Wearing a mask also makes me feel like I’m separate from other people.”
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za). At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations. 
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