Joe Phaahla addresses an audience in Kenya – Photo: GCIS
Joe Phaahla addresses an audience in Kenya – Photo: GCIS
Health Minister Joe Phaahla has shared some good news and some bad news with us all on Wednesday. As the festive holidays draw ever closer, South Africa is spending its second Christmas under a cloud of COVID-19 – and this latest Omicron variant is threatening to derail the seasonal chair.
Case rates for the new strain are starting to take off across South Africa, after making their presence felt in Gauteng. There’s a general consensus that those coming down with Omicron are experiencing mild symptoms.
However, this mutation is highly transmissible, and it’s behind a recent rise in hospitalisations too. Trying to get the balance right in terms of lockdown restrictions, where lives play-off against livelihoods, could prove rather difficult in the days to come – another family on Omicron is expected to take place ‘within days’.
It depends where you live, really. Joe Phaahla has suggested that the initial wave seems to have ‘peaked’ in Gauteng, long known as the Omicron epicentre of the world. For the other eight provinces, however, a high infection rate is likely to cause a few functional issues for family and friends heading into the new year.
Phaahla was in attendance at the Zwartkops Vaccination Site in Gauteng, a drive-through centre that allows motorists to park up and get their jabs as they go about their day. He remains confident about riding out the Omicron wave.
Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla explaining some of the trends government is seeing with regards to COVID-19 new infections, hospitalisation and also recovery. #VaccinesSaveLives pic.twitter.com/s8R4bDxD0Q
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) December 15, 2021