Monday | December 13, 2021
South Africa President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday while in Cape Town for scheduled visit and is isolating in line with the rgulatory protocols.
Earlier in the day Ramaphosa delivered a ulogy at the former President Frederick W. De Klerk’s state-sanctioned memorial service held in Cape Town.
According to The Presidency, Ramaphosa “is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the viral infection today”. The President returned on Dec. 8, 2021 from a tour of Western Africa states. The statement said he last tested negative for Covid-19 on his arrival from Senegal, the last country he visited.
Memorial service
The memorial service of the former head of state was attended by several dignitaries and close family members and associates. De Klerk passed away Nov. 11, 2021 and was buried after cremation on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The 85-year-old was the last Apartheid government system President that was abolished in 1994 when South Africa entered into a new and inclusive democracy.
De Klerk is credited with ending the racially repressive regime which was labelled a crime against humanity by the United Nation. For his role to the new transition government, he earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 alongside the first democratic President Nelson Mandela.
Covid-19 on rampage
South Africa is caught in a contagious coronavirus known as Omicron which medical scientist say it is highly transmittable but less lethal. Convid-19 is raging in many parts of the globe after a resurgence ignited by Omicron by and large.
Further, reinfection cases have been reported across the world together with people who have been vaccinated. The Presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa was fully vaccinated. However, the SA’s Department of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO) are on record concerning contracting Covid-19 even after a double-dose vaccine.
As the country experiences is surge in Covid-19 infections, it confirmed 18, 035 cases and 21 deaths in the past 24 hours. This latest report places the accumulated cases to 3, 167, 497 and the death toll at 90, 137 since the outbreak of this global pandemic. As far as South Africa is concerned, the current strain of the virus crystalizes the fourth wave.
Festive season
The peak of the current wave has not been pronounced yet. A big worry for the authorities it that it comes at a time when the economy is winding down in many sectors, thus, ushering the festive season. This season is associated with more travel and gatherings in this country. These are said to the kind of activities that spread Covid-19 quickly.
For now, the government can take solace in the fact that scientists have indicated that although Omicron spreads fast, the accompanying symptoms are moderate. Similarly, people in general will be hinging their hopes on this prevailing scientific advices.
While iit is still premature whether current vaccines are efficient to dealt with Omicron, the SA government has approved a third jab of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine already enjoying high inoculation status.