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Welcome news on the Day of Reconciliation is that the NCCC has decided to keep the country at Level 1, despite vastly increasing Omicron variant Corona Virus cases, but it is the low numbers of hospitalizations and deaths that have allowed the current status quo.

The local news today follows the welcome news from the UK government two days ago that it was dropping eleven countries from its Red List, including South Africa and its neighbouring countries.  Australia has followed, announcing that it too has dropped our country from its travel ban list.

What is interesting is that the news was communicated via media reports and not by our President Cyril Ramaphosa, known for his ‘family gathering’ Presidential Speeches,  who is currently in Covid infection isolation, or Acting President David Mabuza, who one expected to address the nation in the temporary absence of President Ramaphosa.

Moneyweb reported as follows this morning:

’South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has retained the coronavirus lockdown at ‘adjusted level 1’, or the lowest of a five-tier system of restrictions, in the battle on the Omicron variant, health authorities said on Thursday.

“The Council has directed the department to closely monitor the rising Covid-19 infections,” the health department said in a statement, adding that it would also track hospital admissions, mortality and recovery rates.

These levels were all largely driven by the Omicron variant, which was contributing to South Africa’s fourth wave of infections, it added.

The decision followed deliberation by the Council on safety measures recommended by the health department in a bid to prevent any surge in infections during the festive period, it added.

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide