Amid the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 resulting in a surge of infections in South Africa, its President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for Covid19 infection.
The news was confirmed by his office yesterday, on December 12. It is reported that the President began to feel unwell after he left the State Memorial Service which was held in the honour of former Deputy President and anti-aparthied stalwart FW de Klerk in Cape Town.
President Ramaphosa contracted COVID19 infection on a day when the country recorded a new high of 37,875 new infections overnight, dramatically up from the previous day’s 17,154 new cases.
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Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele was quoted, “The President is in good spirits but is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force”. He further added that the President is fully vaccinated and is in self-isolation in Cape Town.
All the necessary health protocols from wearing of face masks to social distancing were observed at the memorial service. People present at the event have been asked to stay alert about the symptoms and test themselves if necessary.
“President Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure,” Gungubele said.
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The Corona Command Council was supposed to brief the President about the soaring fourth wave in the country this week but at present Deputy President David Mabuza has been delegated with all the responsibilities till the next week.
The analysts have predicted that there is a possibility of more stringent lockdown rules in the wake of the Omicron variant’s outbreak.
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