SA’s Omicron restrictions lifted: significant improvement in the situation

(3 minutes read)

• South African health   experts are of the view that the country has passed its Omicron peak
• There is no significant rise in the number of deaths and infections
• This may help the authorities to clamp down the stiff regulations

South African health   experts are of the view that the country has passed its Omicron peak. There is no significant rise in the number of deaths and infections. This may help the authorities to clamp down the stiff regulations.

This was revealed by Mondli Gungubele, the minister in the Presidency. He said that information gathered by the Department of Health suggested the country may have passed the peak of the Omicron wave. Reports indicate that the cases declined in all provinces except the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. These states recorded increases of 14% and 18%, respectively.   There has been a decline in hospital admissions in all provinces except the Western Cape. However, there is a marginal increase in the number of deaths in all the provinces.

The Omicron variant, despite a higher transmissibility than  Delta one, rates of hospitalization needed were lower. Subsequently, the government announced three major changes to its Covid regulations. The curfew has been eased gradually and now lifted. Gathering restrictions have been eased to 1,000 people indoor and 2,000 outdoor. Still, the social distancing norms  are in place.  Permission was granted to serve alcohol beyond 11 PM as was the case earlier.

South Africa had over 3 million confirmed Covid cases, and is the hardest hot African country due to the virus.