The head of state, entirely vaccinated, suffers from light symptoms and beyond Sunday isolation. For the moment, no information does not specify whether it has been contaminated by the new Omicron variant, detected in November in the country.
Le Monde with AFP
The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, has been tested positive at COVID-19, Sunday, December 12, and started treatment, suffering from light symptoms of the disease.
m. Ramaphosa, 69, fully vaccinated, started to feel “bad” after leaving the official ceremony in Cape Tribute to the former President Frederik of Klerk, died in November, said the presidency in a statement late in the evening. The head of state wore a black mask during the ceremony, which brought together about 200 people in a city church except when he pronounced the funeral eulogy.
“The President, who is entirely vaccinated, was isolated in Cape Town and has delegated all his responsibilities to Vice President David Mabuza for next week,” said the President’s office, stating that the ceremony was unfolded in respect of the sanitary rules. The people who have been in contact with Mr. Ramaphosa have however been invited to monitor the appearance of symptoms or to be tested.
The head of state is followed by the health services of the army. For the moment, no information has been communicated concerning the fact that it would have been contaminated – or not – by the new Omicron variant, detected in November in South Africa.
The Boss of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as is the Director of the African Union Control and Disease Prevention Center (Africa CDC), John Nkengasong wanted him “A speedy recovery” in Twitter messages.
A “WARNING TO ALL IN ABOU DRIVERS OF THE COUNTRY”
OMICRON is now at the origin of the vast majority of contaminations in South Africa, which has experienced an exponential rise in cases since its appearance. Hospitalizations, however, remain quite weak. South Africa is officially the most affected African country by the pandemic. It has more than 3.1 million cases, including more than 90,000 deaths.
Many unknowns still places on the nature of the new form of the virus, which has many mutations and which, according to the first scientific observations, would be more contagious. Researchers still boost the effectiveness of vaccines.
Cyril Ramaphosa has recently visited an official visit to four West African countries, traveling during which he has undergone regular tests. On his return to South Africa, on December 8, he had been negative tested, “said the presidency. The statement quotes the head of state declaring that his own contamination “serve as a warning to all the inhabitants of the country so that they are vaccinated and remain vigilant to any exhibition” to the virus. A little over a quarter of South Africans are fully vaccinated to date, more than elsewhere in Africa, but far behind the rest of the world.
