South African President Cyril Ramaphosa “is in good spirits” as he continued to isolate himself to recover from mild symptoms of Covid-19 after testing positive for the virus last weekend, the presidency said on Saturday.
Ramaphosa was “comfortable, in good spirits” and wanted South Africans to vaccinate and continue observing all protocols designed to prevent the spread of the virus, the office said.
“The president again calls on all people in the country to make this festive season a safe period by being vaccinated, wearing masks, washing or sanitising hands frequently, maintaining a social distance, and avoiding gatherings,” the presidency said.
It added: “This will help save lives, reduce the need for hospital admissions, allow businesses to remain open and enable people to work and earn an income.”
It warned that risky or careless behaviour would “endanger public health and economic activities, neither of which the country can afford during this important period for the retail and tourism sectors.”
The president tested positive for Covid-19 after addressing the memorial service of the last apartheid-era president FW de Klerk who died aged 85 in Cape Town last month.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said Covid-19 infections during the fourth wave have exceeded the previous peaks reached in the previous waves.
According to the minister, the fourth wave, driven by the Omicron variant, continued to spread rapidly across South Africa, and was now detected in at least 76 countries globally.
“In our country, all nine provinces are essentially in the fourth wave – although the Northern Cape is technically just about to enter fully,” the minister said.
NM/jn/APA