At just over 0.2 per cent, the country’s death rate also remains among the lowest globally
South Africa has lifted a midnight to 4am curfew on people’s movement with immediate effect, believing the country has passed the peak of its fourth Covid-19 wave driven by the Omicron variant, a government statement said on Thursday.
The country made the changes based on the trajectory of the pandemic, levels of vaccination in the country and available capacity in the health sector, according to a press release issued by Mondli Gungubele, a minister in the presidency.
South Africa is currently at the lowest of its five-stage Covid-19 alert levels.
“All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level,” a statement from the special cabinet meeting held earlier on Thursday said.
Data from the Department of Health showed a 29.7 per cent decrease in the number of new cases detected in the week ending December 25 compared to the number of cases found in the previous week, at 127,753, the government said.
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South Africa, with close to 3.5 million infections and 91,000 deaths, has been the worst-hit country in Africa during the pandemic on both counts.
Besides lifting the restrictions on public movement, the government said gatherings will be restricted to no more than 1,000 people indoors, and no more than 2,000 people outdoors.
It also ruled that alcohol shops with licences to operate beyond 11pm may revert back to full licence conditions, a welcome boon for traders and businesses hard hit by the pandemic and looking to recover during the festive season.
“While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been lower rates of hospitalisation than in previous waves,” cabinet said, adding that the wearing of masks in public places remained mandatory. Failure to wear a mask in South Africa when required remains a criminal offence.
At just over 0.2 per cent, the country’s death rate also remains among the lowest globally
Over 179 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
The announcement coincides with a drop in the number of registered coronavirus cases
Over 178.6 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
A total of at least eight cities and towns say their residents must not go beyond where they live
City health officials warn infections could hit 8,000 in the coming weeks
Foreigners who want to leave must test negative in five PCR tests over seven days
Over 178.6 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far