South Africa says Omicron variant may have peaked

BoomRadioNG | December 31, 2021

South Africa has lifted overnight curfew rules, with officials saying the country may have passed the peak of its fourth wave of Covid-19 infections.

A government statement said the Omicron variant, while highly transmissible, had seen lower hospitalization rates than previous waves.

There had been a marginal increase in the number of deaths, it added.

The variant – first reported by South Africa last month – is spreading fast elsewhere leading to widespread curbs.

Corona VIRUS

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a “tsunami” of infections from Delta and Omicron variants that could overwhelm health systems.

But in South Africa, a statement released after a special cabinet meeting said cases and hospital admission rates had dropped in almost all provinces across the country.

For the week ending 25 December 2021, the number of confirmed infections stood at 89,781 – down from 127,753 the week before.

The changes announced include lifting restrictions on movement between midnight and 04:00. Businesses will also be allowed to sell alcohol under normal licensing rules, instead of closing at 23:00.

Paul Ayorinde