Joe Phaahla addresses an audience in Kenya – Photo: GCIS
Joe Phaahla addresses an audience in Kenya – Photo: GCIS
With cases on the march and a younger demographic of patients now being hospitalised with COVID-19, some of the jumpier citizens in Mzansi may be wondering if a harder set of lockdown restrictions are coming our way. However, Health Minister Joe Phaahla has taken a rather rational approach to the Omicron variant.
Does South Africa need a harder lockdown?
According to him, South Africa ‘can manage’ the fourth wave – WITHOUT invoking serious lockdown restrictions. Although he says the avoidance of stricter measures is dependent on more people getting vaccinated, Phaahla remains calm:
“We can manage this fourth wave. We can manage Omicron. We can manage in a way where the government doesn’t have to invoke serious restrictions in the next few days – but more people DO need to get vaccinated.”
Joe Phaahla on the potential for a harder lockdown in SA
What we know about Omicron so far…
Research released on Thursday shows that the Omicron variant really isn’t here to piss about. The new strain appears to be more transmissible than Delta, and it has been blamed for the explosion of new cases in Gauteng.
The rising infection rate has propelled South Africa into a fourth wave of the virus. Hospitalisations, especially in the young, have increased – although early evidence suggests a majority of the vaccinated will only get mild symptoms.
Health Minister eases fears over ‘Omicron lockdown’
Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation last weekend, and confirmed that no lockdown restrictions would be tightened, despite the impact of the new variant. That may change in the coming days – as the government weighs up the possibility of mandatory vaccines in some settings – but the Health Minister doesn’t want to see a knee-jerk reaction.
- Cases are expected to peak in mid-December, before decreasing again ahead of Christmas.
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— PiQ (@PriapusIQ) December 3, 2021
